ARPCV - Association pour le reboisement et la protection du Cengle Sainte-Victoire

It was created in 1986 following the fire that ravaged the Cengle, a rocky plateau in the south of the massif, and part of the mountain. Its primary aim was to rehabilitate the burnt-out area by clearing it and reforesting it.

The association's innovative idea was to break the age-old cycle of fire - regrowth of highly combustible pinewoods - fire, and to plant hardwoods that were more resistant to the passage of fire, in close rows, so as to prevent the development of fire-spreading scrubland shrubs.

Over 140,000 trees have been planted to date by ARPCV between Sainte-Victoire, Puyloubier, Saint-Ser, Eguilles, Saint-Cannat and Barbentane.

The association has also produced educational works (booklets for children) designed to promote the riches of Sainte-Victoire, and story booklets for young children to help them learn more about nature.

In 2001, ARPCV was awarded the Merci, dit la planète label by the French Ministry of the Environment for its Fête de la Nature event, and in 2003, it received approval from both the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Education.