Vallée du Sarthon et affluents
Vallée du Sarthon et affluents translated as Sarthon Valley and tributaries is a Natura 2000 conservation area that is 5,255 hectares in size.{{Cite web|url=https://www.donnees.normandie.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/pdf/N2000/FR2502015f.pdf |title=Vallée du Sarthon et ses affluents |language=fr |publisher=Ministre de la Transition écologique}}
Geography
The area is focused on the Sarthon river a tributary to the Sarthe river. The river flows from the Écouves forest massif creating alluvial plains.
It is spread across 12 different communes all within the departments of Orne and Mayenne;{{Cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR2502015|title=INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2502015 - Vallée du Sarthon et affluents - Description}}
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- La Ferrière-Bochard
- Gandelain
- Lalacelle
- L'Orée-d'Écouves
- Ravigny
- La Roche-Mabile
- Rouperroux
- Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei
- Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon
- Saint-Ellier-les-Bois
- Saint-Nicolas-des-Bois
- Saint-Pierre-des-Nids
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Some of the protected site is within the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pays-de-la-loire.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/docob_zsc_sarthon_fr2502015-2013.pdf|title=Vallée du Sarthon et de ses affluents Document d’objectifs du site Natura 2000|publisher=Parc naturel régional Normandie-Maine}}
Conservation
The conservation area has nine species listed in Annex 2 of the Habitats Directive;{{Cite web|url=https://eunis.eea.europa.eu/sites/FR2502015|title=EUNIS -Site factsheet for Vallée du Sarthon et affluents|website=eunis.eea.europa.eu}}
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- Northern crested newt
- Eurasian otter
- European bullhead
- Cottus perifretum
- Brook lamprey
- White-clawed crayfish
- Southern damselfly
- Marsh fritillary
- Freshwater pearl mussel
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In addition the Natura 2000 site has five habitats protected under the Habitats Directive.