The conservation actions for Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni), an emblematic species of southern France, began in the 1990s following the awareness of their situation's urgency. The establishment of the Natura 2000 European network defined guidelines for the conservation of biodiversity. Protected areas in favor of the preservation of Hermann's tortoises were also created, notably the Plaine des Maures National Nature Reserve in 2009. Finally, lands were acquired by the Coastal Protection Agency to allow the sustainable conservation and ecological monitoring of certain sites.