Jardin du Lautaret

Geographical location

Grenoble and Col du Lautaret (at 2100m)
GPS Coordinates: 45°02 N – 6°24 E

Established

1899 – Lautaret Alpine Botanical Garden
2005 – Joseph Fourier Alpine Station

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Environmental context and issues

The functioning of mountain ecosystems remains largely unexplored compared to that of plain ecosystems, while Alpine environments are particularly exposed to climate and agricultural changes. Arctic environments and other mountain environments have long-established experimental ecoo y research stations but, for a long time, this tool was not implemented in the Alps. The Joseph Fourier Alpine Station enables research on plant ecology and on the functional ecology of Alpine ecosystems. The station trains students and educates the public (with between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors per season to the Alpine Garden).

Services

the services offered are divided between in situ experimental spaces and an analytical platform which is located nearby. the services on offer in the outside spaces are divided between experimental spaces, botanical collections and observation systems for high-altitude environmental conditions.

List of services

• plots of subalpine meadow,
• experimental spaces (250 m²) of semi-controlled cultivation,
• a high-altitude arboretum,
• a weather station,
• a flux tower on a subalpine meadow.

The joseph fourier alpine station includes laboratories which cover a broad spectrum (study of mountain organisms, ecosystems and climate). there are several databases available (time series of climate variables, microclimate, high-resolution remote sensing data). the station has a capacity of 25 beds and is open all year round, providing unique access to the snowy high-altitude ecosystems. it has botanical, horticultural and ecological expertise specific to alpine ecosystems. the station is a member of the zone atelier alpes, with access to those responsible for managing protected areas, which facilitates the implementation of in situ research. the galerie de l’alpe conference room has a capacity of 70.

Access to services

the experimental platform is open to french and foreign laboratories, subject to project validation by a local scientific committee. the botanical garden is open to the public between June and September.