Val Clavin is one of the most prestigious sites in Haute-Marne. It is highly representative of the Montagne Chatillonnaise. Open to the north, the valley has one of the coldest microclimates in the area, favouring mountain vegetation, with forest types closely linked to the direction of the slope: On a large proportion of the well-exposed slopes, the montane dry beech forest with Carex alba thrives, with numerous rare and protected species (Cephalanthera rubra and longifolia); hygrophilous forests line the stream and marsh.
Undeveloped site (stay on the signposted footpath)
Access reserved for an informed and respectful public
For nature lovers :
Today's grasslands cover a tiny area compared to their extent 50 years ago: they are groups belonging to the Violo rupestris-Seslerietum (rich in rare and protected species such as great gentian, bird's-foot sedge and rock violet) and the Festuco lemanii-Brometum (with bird's-foot sedge and whitish helianthemum, which are protected in Champagne-Ardenne).
Vegetation:
The tufa marsh vegetation is one of the most original in the Val, with low marshes criss-crossed by brooks and peat bogs, dominated by choin ferrugineux (a nationally protected species), with, amongst others, swertie perenne, broad-leaved linaigrette, marsh parnassia and a rare orchid, Dactylorhiza traunsteineri, all of which are on the Champagne-Ardenne red list of plants: the flora of this group is typically mountainous and rich in protected species.
In the wettest areas, you will find the sedge marsh. The megaphorbia located on the edges of the marshes and willows contain two uncommon species: the protected Aconitum napellus and Filipendula vulgaris.
Several areas of Val Clavin offer dynamic mosaic systems with well-developed edges and small clearings, and in particular a xerophilous grouping with dry beech and grassland species.
The overall vegetation on the site contains 14 protected species and 13 species on the red list of plants in Champagne-Ardenne.
Fauna:
The very rich entomofauna includes many rare species, with seven species of dragonfly (including the nationally protected mercury agrion, included on the national and European red lists of endangered insects, the great aeschne, the ringed and bidentate cordulégestres, etc.), five species of crickets, and two species of birds of prey.), five species of song crickets or grasshoppers, and four species of butterfly, including the sanguisorbe peacock, the little silver-necked butterfly and the bacchante, protected under the Bern Convention, listed in the red book of endangered fauna in France and on the red list of insects in Champagne-Ardenne.
The avifauna is characterised by numerous passerines (skylark, skylark, grey flycatcher, proyer sparrow, babbler warbler, spotted locustelle, which is the most typical passerine of the Val Clavin marshes, nesting among the oak and mulberry trees, etc.), various woodpeckers and magpies, and a variety of birds of prey.), various woodpeckers and shrikes (green woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, red-backed shrike, grey shrike), diurnal birds of prey that frequent the site in search of food (black and red kites, hen harrier, hobby and kestrel falcons, bee-eater and sparrow hawk) and nocturnal birds of prey that nest in the area (little owl, barn owl, tawny owl, long-eared owl), as well as a number of species of hunting interest (turtle and collared doves, quail, various thrushes, woodcock, wood pigeon and pigeon) and other rare regional nesters such as the dipper. Many of these species are on the regional red list.
Bats are one of the great treasures of Val Clavin, and include the common noctule, which lives in the woodpecker holes in the dead trees of the Gorgeot valley, the great murine, Daubenton's murine, the moustached murine, the common serotine, the pipistrelle and the red-eared auricle; the whole area is more of a hunting area for these chiropterans, which find many insects.
The ZNIEFF is part of the large ZNIEFF II known as the Massif Forestier and its surroundings to the south of Auberive. The marsh is still in good condition despite the serious damage that has occurred in recent years (afforestation and expansion of agriculture), the site is now protected by an A. The site is now protected by a P.B.A. and management has been carried out on the Vivey marsh (Val Clavin). This work must continue. In addition, the Combe Sainte-Marie valley should be the subject of a biological forestry reserve.
Forêt, marais et pelouses du Val Clavin
