ALSACE - Environment
The quality of life in Alsace
Alsace is a densely populated, highly industrialized and urbanized region, with a first-class ecological and cultural heritage. The diversity and quality of its landscape have been instrumental in forming its image, or 'identity', but a close watch has to be kept on the environment in view of its specific geographical and climatic features.
The plain is a rift valley, with exceptional underground and surface water resources. The underground water supply - an estimated 50 000 million cubic metres - needs particularly careful monitoring since it is shallow and vulnerable to surface pollution. Alsace's water courses are at risk from certain industrial activities, pollution of the Rhine that happened in the past highlighted the need for vigilance and cross-border cooperation to deal with issues with a supra-regional impact.
Alsace is proud of its image and particularly concerned about maintaining its quality of life, aware of the fact that human activities should not be allowed to develop to the detriment of a balanced environment. Emphasis has been laid on proper management, so that the national parks in the region (the Northern Vosges and the Ballons des Vosges), which cover almost 20% of the land area, together with nature reserves, play their full part in exploiting and at the same time protecting the natural assets of Alsace.
In 1999, nearly 29% of the municipal waste was incinerated with energy recovery. This is over the national average.
90% of the population is connected to public sewerage; this is the second highest rate after Ile-de-France.
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