Ownership of the French Alps is a complex patchwork of public and private interests rather than a single entity. A significant portion of the land is publicly owned by the French state, managed primarily through the Office National des Forêts (ONF). This includes vast tracts of protected forests and high-altitude wilderness. Additionally, large sections fall within National Parks, such as Vanoise, Ecrins, and Mercantour, where the state enforces strict environmental regulations. However, much of the habitable valley land and the lower slopes are privately owned by local residents, farmers, and families, many of whom have held the land for generations. The famous ski resorts themselves are often a mix; while the land may be owned by the local municipality (commune), the rights to operate the ski lifts and infrastructure are typically leased to large private corporations like Compagnie des Alpes. There are also communal lands known as "sections de commune," which are managed collectively by local villagers for grazing and timber. So, while the "mountains" are a national treasure of France, the actual ground is divided between the government, local towns, and private citizens.