France, a territory with exceptional biodiversity
It is home to 10% of the world's known species, it is one of the 15 “megadiverse” countries and the only one to be present in 5 of the 36 global biodiversity “hotspots” (Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, New Caledonia, Micronesia-Polynesia). This natural heritage, combined with its cultural heritage, contributes towards making France the world’s leading tourist destination. This exceptional heritage gives France a global responsibility to conserve biodiversity.
Metropolitan France
Metropolitan France hosts 4 European biogeographical regions (Atlantic, Continental, Mediterranean and Alpine) which favour a wide variety of natural habitats and species. It is home to 57% of the natural habitat types identified as priorities at European level and to 40% of Europe's flora.
Overseas
The ecological assets of the overseas territories are immense: although a tiny piece of land (0.08 % of the planet’s total land mass), they are home to more than 16,000 endemic species, and above all, constitute a vast marine area. With 11 million km2, France has the world’s second largest maritime domain that encompasses about 10% of the coral reefs and 20% of the atolls of the planet. French Guiana embraces 7 million hectares of rainforest, New Caledonia has the second largest coral reef in the world, Mayotte has one of the few double-reef lagoons, and the French Austral and Antarctic Lands are home to the most diverse seabird communities in the world.
Actions in favour of biodiversity
To protect marine biodiversity and the services provided by the oceans, France has chosen to carry out a proactive policy of creating and managing marine protected areas in all its metropolitan and overseas waters. Marine protected areas are defined areas at sea that meet long-term nature protection objectives. Since 2007, 546 marine protected areas have been created in metropolitan France and its overseas territories, and amongst them, nine marine natural parks.
As such, the country has 54 regional nature parks and 11 national parks on its territory, including 3 overseas. Recognised nationally and internationally as exceptional areas, they offer a combination of remarkable terrestrial and marine areas, as well as governance and management schemes aimed at preserving their diversity.
© Desiderata 2020
