In line with the "Grenelle de l'environnement", the environmental management has taken a spatial dimension by integrating landscape ecology concepts. Through the "Trame verte et bleue", it has also integrated town and country planning policy. In response to this strategic challenge, some initiatives have been taken to initiate reflection about identification and mapping of ecological continuities. This paper deals with the experimental project carried out by the French Massif central's natural parks association (IPAMAC) on the Massif central's ecological network characterization. Taking into account the large study area and a limited data availability the choice has been made not to use a target species approach, but instead to focus on hab...