PETR Causses et Cévennes

What PETR Causses et Cévennes does

PETR Causses et Cévennes is a French public territorial cooperation structure (Syndicat mixte / Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et Rural) created in 2017 and headquartered at the Maison de l'Intercommunalité in Le Vigan (Gard, Occitanie). It coordinates territorial development across two member communautés de communes — Causses Aigoual Cévennes – Terres Solidaires and Pays Viganais — spanning 109 communes and approximately 63,000 inhabitants within the UNESCO-listed Causses and Cévennes agro-pastoral landscape. The PETR serves elected officials, municipalities, local associations, and citizen initiatives by elaborating strategic plans, accompanying public project holders in accessing European, State, regional, and departmental funding, and animating the territory's ecological and tourism transitions.

Its core deliverables are planning and policy documents rather than software products: the Schéma de Cohérence Territoriale (SCoT) — a 20-year land-use framework approved by the Conseil syndical on June 17, 2025 after an unqualified favorable opinion from the public inquiry commission on December 19, 2024 — together with a 33-image cartographic atlas, the Charte Forestière Sud Cévennes (signed December 16, 2024, covering 67% of the territory), the Schéma des Mobilités (elaborated 2023-2024 with ADEME's AVELO 3 cycling program), the CRTE 2021-2026 ecological transition contract, the CTO 2022-2028 with Région Occitanie and Département du Gard, and the Avenir Montagne tourism-transition pilot. Outputs are produced with technical partners including A'U (Agence d'Urbanisme), Cerema, ONF, and the Fabrique des Transitions.

The PETR operates a non-commercial public funding model: revenues are not disclosed but are composed of statutory member contributions from the two communautés de communes plus project-tied subsidies from the EU (FEDER-FSE+, LEADER), the French State (Fonds vert, ADEME, ANCT, Banque des Territoires), Région Occitanie, and Département du Gard. Delivery is executed by a six-person operational team (coordinator, local development agent, mobility officer, Avenir Montagne project manager, forest charter animator, and administrative staff), governed by a Conseil syndical of 30 titular delegates and 30 substitutes plus a 13-member Conseil de Développement (CoDev) representing civil society, with Sylvie Pavlista re-elected President on May 11, 2026 for the 2026-2032 mandate.

Name

PETR Causses et Cévennes

Legal name

Syndicat mixte PETR Causses et Cévennes

Website

https://petr-causses-cevennes.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Public French territorial cooperation structure (Syndicat mixte / PETR) coordinating strategic planning, ecological transition, mobility, forest management, and tourism programs across 109 communes and roughly 63,000 inhabitants in the Causses and Cévennes UNESCO-listed territory of southern France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Territorial Planning Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP) & Permit Compliance Support (EUAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Territorial planning
• Rural development
• Ecological transition
• Sustainable mobility
• Public funding support

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Vigan

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member contributions: The budget of the PETR comes from contributions from its member communities of communes (Causses Aigoual Cévennes – Terres Solidaires and Pays Viganais) as well as subsidies allocated to carry out projects.
2. Public subsidies and grants: The PETR receives funding from the State, Région Occitanie, Département du Gard, ADEME, ANCT, European programs (FEDER-FSE+), and other public bodies for specific projects and missions such as ecological transition, mobility, tourism transition, and forest charter activities.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PETR Causses et Cévennes is a French public territorial cooperation structure (Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et Rural) that designs and coordinates strategic planning documents such as the SCoT, runs ecological transition, sustainable mobility, forest charter, and tourism transition programs, and supports its member municipalities in obtaining public funding for local development projects across the Causses and Cévennes territory.

Product overview

PETR Causses et Cévennes is a public territorial cooperation structure (Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et Rural) created in 2017, not a commercial product company. The organization offers territorial development services organized around key programs: SCoT (Territorial Coherence Scheme) for strategic land-use planning; Ecological Transition services including CRTE/CTE contracts; Mobility Scheme for rural transportation solutions with AVELO 3 bike program; Charte Forestière for sustainable forest management; Tourism Transition Strategy aligned with the Avenir Montagne pilot program; and Local Development Support for municipalities seeking funding from EU, national, and regional sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCoT (Schéma de Cohérence Territoriale) Long-term strategic planning document defining land-use, housing, economic development, and transport orientations across the PETR territory; intended for member communities of communes and municipalities.
• Ecological Transition Program Coordinated program of ecological transition actions (energy, climate, biodiversity) led by the PETR for the benefit of its member communities of communes.
• Sustainable Mobility Scheme Program to develop and coordinate sustainable mobility solutions and services across the Causses et Cévennes territory, targeting residents and visitors of member communes.
• Forest Charter Charter coordinating forest management, valorization of forest resources, and related economic and environmental actions across the territory for member municipalities and local forest actors.
• Tourism Transition Program Program supporting the transition of the local tourism economy toward more sustainable models, coordinated by the PETR for member communes and local tourism stakeholders.
• Public Funding Support Service Advisory and project-engineering service that helps member communities of communes and municipalities prepare and submit applications for regional, national, and European public funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• SCoT approved June 17, 2025 with favorable public inquiry opinion (December 19, 2024)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CNFPT (Centre National de la Fonction Publique Territoriale)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The PETR collaborated with CNFPT to produce the 4-episode podcast 'Compétences en transition', exploring how the PETR integrates ecological and social transition challenges into its territorial animation missions.
• Région Occitanie - Contrat Territorial (CTO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The PETR and the communauté de communes du Piémont Cévenol signed a territorial contract with Région Occitanie and the Département du Gard for 2022-2028. The PETR pilots the contract at its scale and for CCPC. Avenants 2025-2026 have been signed. The Dotation Innovation Expérimentation (DIE) is also part of the CTO.
• État français - CRTE (Contrat pour la Réussite de la Transition Écologique)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021In December 2021, the PETR and the communauté de communes du Piémont Cévenol signed the CRTE covering 2021-2026. The contract defines a partnership framework between the State and local authorities for achieving ecological, social, cultural and economic transformation.
• ANCT (Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2021The PETR is a pilot territory of the Avenir Montagne program launched by the State and managed by ANCT on May 27, 2021. ANCT provides substantial operational support along with APEC and Banque des Territoires. Jeanne Claviere serves as project manager for Avenir Montagne. ANCT organizes national events (Avenir Montagnes Ingénierie Day) where the PETR shares its experience.
• APECcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2021APEC (Association Pour l'Emploi des Cadres) is part of the Avenir Montagne support structure alongside ANCT and Banque des Territoires, contributing to the pilot territory accompaniment.
• La Fabrique des TransitionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2021The Fabrique des Transitions (an alliance of 350+ entities including local authorities, research labs, associations) provides a 5-phase accompaniment methodology for the 9 Avenir Montagne pilot territories: common trunk, sensitive diagnosis, peer groups, test projects, and evaluative session. Jean-François Caron is president. The PETR's diagnosis was carried out by Mr. Caron in 2023.
• A'U (Agence d'Urbanisme des Régions de Nîmes et d'Alès)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PETR is a member of A'U which accompanies it in the elaboration of its SCoT and mobility plan. A'U produced the SCoT synthesis document and provides cartographic expertise. The PETR's adhesion to A'U was approved in the February 19, 2026 council meeting.
• Fédération nationale des SCoTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PETR is a member of the Fédération nationale des SCoT and participates regularly in the Club InterSCoT, where technicians and elected officials share experiences on planning document design and execution.
• CeremaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCerema Occitanie provides technical assistance in the conception and organization of PETR events, including the mobility seminar (March 2024).
• Département du GardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gard department is a partner in the CTO (Contrat Territorial) with Région Occitanie and participates in the CRTE. It publishes a guide of aids for Gard municipalities.
• Filature du MazelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Filature du Mazel (cultural venue) and the Ecole supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Nîmes for artist residencies on the territory around ecological transition themes. 5-week residencies are hosted for young Nîmes art school graduates.
• Ecole supérieure des Beaux-Arts de NîmesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the art school for artist residencies on the PETR territory. Two graduates (Juliette Vergori and Maridélys Léonet) completed a residency at the Atelier de Valleraugue in November 2024.
• Parc National des CévennescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Parc National des Cévennes cooperates with the PETR on forest charter activities (Forêt d'exception designation, forest festival), Avenir Montagne projects, and the Cirque de Navacelles Grand Site de France program.
• ONF (Office National des Forêts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONF manages the Aigoual domanial forest ('Forêt d'exception') and is a key partner in the Charte Forestière Sud Cévennes. ONF participates in forest festival events, Marteloscope visits, and forest management projects.
• La Région Occitanie (Transport / mobility)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRégion Occitanie operates the bus line 108 to Mont Aigoual and collaborated on the mobility survey at the Aigoual summit (August 7, 2025). It is also the managing authority for FEDER-FSE+ funding.
• PETR Sud LozèreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring PETR that cooperates with PETR Causses et Cévennes on shared forest charter initiatives (Fête de la Forêt des Cévennes) and participates in joint learning visits.
• Pays des CévennesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent territory with which the PETR cooperates on forest charter activities (shared Fête de la Forêt des Cévennes) and Avenir Montagne exchanges.
• CyclopédieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCycling association partner that collaborates with the PETR on Mai à Vélo events and cycling programs on the territory.
• Vélo Vintage en CévennesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCycling association that partners with the PETR for Mai à Vélo, Savoir Rouler à Vélo (SRAV), and cycling awareness events. Also remobilizes used bicycles for the SRAV program.
• Syndicat mixte du Grand Site de France du Cirque de NavacellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Grand Site de France syndicate cooperates with the PETR on cycling events (Mai à Vélo, cols réservés) and participates in the joint steering committee of the PETR's transition missions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Parc National des Cévennes: French National Park with overlapping jurisdiction over the Cévennes portion of the PETR territory; cooperates with PETR Causses et Cévennes on forest charter activities, Avenir Montagne, and Cirque de Navacelles Grand Site de France, but operates under stricter environmental-protection mandate rather than generalist territorial planning.

Broad incumbents

• Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses: Regional Natural Park overlapping the southern Causses plateau within the PETR Causses et Cévennes territory, performing complementary environmental stewardship, heritage protection, and sustainable development missions under French environmental law, with broader geographic scope.

Direct peers

• PETR Sud Lozère: Neighboring French Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et Rural covering the southern Lozère department, performing the same statutory missions (SCoT support, ecological transition, mobility, local development) for rural mountain communes. The two PETRs already cooperate on the shared F\u00eate de la For\u00eat des C\u00e9vennes and exchange best practices.
• PETR du Velay: Rural mountain PETR in Haute-Loire (Massif Central), executing comparable missions including SCoT support, ecological transition, mobility, and tourism diversification for a network of communes with similar geographic challenges.
• PETR du Grand Clermont: Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et Rural in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region covering the Clermont metropolitan area and surrounding rural communes, performing SCoT elaboration, mobility planning, and ecological transition missions for Occitanie/Massif Central-adjacent territory.
• PETR de l'Ariège: Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et Rural serving the Ariège department in the Occitanie region, providing an analogous mix of territorial planning, ecological transition, and rural development services to mountain communes under the same French statutory framework.
• PETR Loire-Beauce-Cœur: French Pôle d'Équilibre Territorial et Rural carrying out the same statutory territorial planning and development role (SCoT, local development support, ecological transition) for a network of communes in Centre-Val de Loire.
• PETR Pays des Cévennes: Adjacent territorial cooperation structure with which PETR Causses et Cévennes partners on forest charter activities and Avenir Montagne exchanges. Operates a similar rural-mountain mandate under the same French PETR legal framework.

Others

• Communauté de communes Causses Aigoual Cévennes – Terres Solidaires: One of the two member communautés de communes of the PETR, providing the budgetary contributions that fund PETR operations; comparable as an inter-municipal cooperation structure with overlapping public-planning functions at a more local scale.
• Agence d'Urbanisme des Régions de Nîmes et d'Alès (A'U): Agence d'urbanisme providing SCoT cartographic expertise and technical support to PETR Causses et Cévennes; offers comparable urban and territorial planning services across multiple PETR/EPCI clients in the Gard and Lozère departments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PetrCaussesCevennes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/petr-causses-et-cevennes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PETR Causses et Cévennes