Side Tray A lush green setting nestled between the lake and the mountains

As the flora and fauna of the Gavot Plateau are surprisingly rich, numerous measures have been put in place to protect them.

A flattened dome formed by an ancient glacial moraine, set against a rural mountain landscape, the Gavot Plateau encompasses almost every type of wetland found in the Northern Alps: lakes, alkaline marshes, wet meadows, acidic peat bogs… Situated mainly at altitudes of between 630 and 950 metres, it forms the catchment area—that is, the primary infiltration zone—for Évian natural mineral water.

It is home to over a hundred wetlands, featuring a wide variety of habitats and ecological types. The long-standing policy of wetland conservation, implemented at a very early stage and in partnership with local stakeholders, makes this site a unique and remarkably well-preserved area.

The biological diversity of the Gavot region is remarkable, rich in heritage species whose conservation is both a challenge and a regional responsibility. In fact, the Ramsar site encompasses 27 per cent of all plant species in Haute-Savoie and 9 per cent of species of special interest, despite its small area, which represents only 0.72 per cent of the department.