Since 28th May 2013, the Alps have had a new trans-border biosphere reserve: the Italian and French territories situated on each side of Mont Viso now constitute two biosphere reserves totalling 294,000 hectares and including 4 sites already listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites.

About twenty communes are concerned on the French side and 88 on the Italian side.

This classification is thanks to the collaboration between the Pô Cuneese and Queyras regional parks, which made a joint application to obtain the international UNESCO “Man and Biosphere” recognition on a national and trans-border level.