PROTECTED AREAS in France A diversity of tools for the conservation of biodiversity Acknowledgements This publication was produced jointly with the Commission on Protected Areas of the IUCN French Committee and the help of © Fred JACQ Coordinated by Thierry Lefebvre and Sébastien Moncorps, and published by the IUCN French Committee, Paris, France. Maps: Benoît Lefeuvre (Natural Heritage Service, National Museum of Natural History), data from the national inventory of natural heritage (NINH) Legal deposit: September 2013 ISBN : 978-2-918105-32-9 Reproduction for non-commercial purposes, notably educational, is permitted without written permission, provided that the source is duly cited. Reproduction for commercial purposes, notably sale, is prohibited without the written permission of the IUCN French Committee. The presentation of the documents and geographic terms used in this book is by no means the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IUCN French Committee in respect of the legal status or authority of any State, territory or region, or their borders or territorial limits. Quotation reference: IUCN France (2013), Protected Areas in France: a diversity of tools for the conservation of biodiversity, Paris, 44 pages. Cover photo credit: Matthieu JEANSON - Glorioso Islands, Pascal SAULAY - Ecrins National Park Printing : Imprimerie La Forezienne - www.forezienne.fr Printed on paper from sustainable forests. 10-31-2097 Orders should be addressed to: Comité français de l’UICN 26 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire - 75005 Paris - France Phone: +33 (0)1 4331 0279 Fax: +33 (0)1 4707 7178 Email: [email protected] 2 Protected Areas in France Foreword Protected areas are an essential part of biodiversity, economic development policies and actions. To do so, geodiversity and landscape conservation strategies. we will need to strengthen ecological knowledge, ensure Established to preserve significant natural heritage sites, that the system of protected areas is fully representative they also contribute to the ecological quality of natural in ecological terms, and enhance the coherence of the habitats and the territories surrounding them, and help various technical and legal conservation tools as well as the maintain the goods and services that ecosystems provide to efficiency of management and local governance. people. In view of these multiple benefits, the Parties to the This brochure describes the French system of protected Convention on Biological Diversity have pledged to set aside areas. We hope it will help the reader better understand the 17% of land areas and 10% of coastal and marine areas essential contribution of these mechanisms to the protection by 2020, through networks of ecologically representative of our natural heritage, land management and, more and efficiently managed protected areas (Aichi Biodiversity broadly, sustainable development. It was produced by the Targets). Protected Areas Commission of the IUCN French Committee In France, protected areas of all categories cover nearly in collaboration with the entire network of protected natural 20% of land area and involve numerous institutional areas in France and the National Museum of Natural History. stakeholders. Our country has set itself the goal of placing It was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable at least 2% of its continental land area under a high degree Development and Energy. We warmly thank the Ministry for of protection and protecting 20% of its entire maritime its support. domain by 2020. As we achieve this quantitative expansion, we must endeavour to integrate these areas into dynamic François LETOURNEUX ecological networks interacting closely with planning and Chairman of the Commission on Protected Areas of the IUCN French Committee © Fred JACQ 3 4 Protected Areas in France © F. LEPAGE / Banc d’Arguin Nature Reserve in the Arcachon basin: colony of sandwich terns The French system of nature conservation Heritage History Organization Challenges France’s global From the preservation A wide variety Five major challenges responsibilities of landscapes to of approaches for the future regarding biodiversity the construction of and protection tools conservation ecological networks 6 10 14 18 © Conservatoire du littoral The French system of nature conservation 5 France’s global responsibilities regarding biodiversity conservation France is home to a rich natural heritage, on land and sea, particularly in its overseas territories, but one that is subject © Réunion Island National Park/ Jean-François BEGUE to significant degradation. A natural heritage of global significance METROPOLITAN FRANCE, A BIOGEOGRA- PHICAL CROSSROADS IN EUROPE With a land area of 551,500 km2, France is the largest country Its geographical position and the great diversity of in Western Europe. its climate and geology puts metropolitan France at Its territories span two continents an ecological crossroads spanning four of Western (Europe and the Americas) and three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian). Europe’s five major biogeographic regions The country boasts the world’s second- (Atlantic, alpine, continental and Mediterranean). largest maritime domain after the United States (10.3 million km2), ahead France is accordingly home to a large diversity of of Australia, Canada and Russia. species and ecosystems, as well as a mosaic of Its overseas territories account for 97% natural landscapes. It occupies the leading place of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). in Europe for the diversity of amphibian, bird and France shares 4,082 km of land borders mammal species. It is also home to 40% of European with 11 countries – eight of which in Europe – and has maritime borders with plant species and more than half of the EU’s Habitats 30 countries. of Community Importance. Source: European Environment Agency Legend: Biogeographic regions in Western Europe Atlantic Mediterranean alpine continental A UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY IN THE OVERSEAS TERRITORIES ONE OF THe world’s greATEST MARITIME DOMAINS France also has a number of territories outside continental Europe. They cover a wide geographical The French maritime domain covers 11 million km2, area, from the Antarctic to the North Atlantic, as which is 19 times the size of metropolitan France well as the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, the Indian and represents more than 3% of the world’s seas Ocean and the Amazon. The rich biodiversity of these and oceans. The biological diversity of this vast Glossary: go to page 41 areas is unique, and gives France a place among the area is unique. It includes 55,000 km2 of coral reefs megadiverse countries: its territories belong to 16 stretching along 5,000 kilometres of coastline. These marine ecoregions and include 10% of the world’s ecosystems are home to about a third of known coral reefs and lagoons, and 20% of its atolls. The marine biodiversity on Earth! fact that most of these territories are islands results in a very high level of fauna and flora endemism. For instance, the island of Rapa in French Polynesia is home to at least 300 endemic species in an area of approximately 40 km2. 6 Protected Areas in France MAP SHOWING THE 34 GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS HIGHLIGHTING FRANCE’S PARTICULAR SITUATION, PRESENT IN FIVE OF THESE AREAS. New Caledonia Land area: 18,575 km² Guadeloupe Saint Pierre and Miquelon Metropolitan France Land area: 1,702 km² Land area: 242 km² EEZ: 1,364,000 km² Land area: 547,030 km² Status: Overseas collectivity EEZ: 86,000 km² EEZ: 10,000 km² EEZ: 349,000 km² Status: Overseas department Status: Overseas collectivity Wallis and Futuna Land area: 75 km² Martinique EEZ: 266,000 km² Land area: 1,128 km² Status: Overseas collectivity EEZ: 47,000 km² Status: Overseas department French Polynesia Land area: 4,200 km² EEZ: 4,804,000 km² Status: Overseas country Saint Martin Land area: 86 km² EEZ: 1,000 km² Status: Overseas collectivity Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Martin Saint Barthélemy French Polynesia Saint Barthélemy Guadeloupe Martinique Land area: 25 km² Mayotte EEZ: 4,000 km² French Guyana Clipperton Land area: 374 km² Status: Overseas collectivity Mayotte EEZ: 62,000 km² Status: Overseas department Reunion Island Wallis and Futuna Scattered Islands New Caledonia Amsterdam Island Saint Paul Island Reunion Island Clipperton Land area: 2,512 km² Crozet Islands Kerguelen Islands Land area: 7 km² EEZ: 304,000 km² EEZ: 434,000 km² French Southern and Antarctic Territories Status: Overseas department Status: Overseas collectivity Adélie Land French Southern French Guyana and Antarctic Territories Land area: 86,504 km² French maritime domain Hotspots* Major forest areas Hotspots in which France is present Land area: 7,829 km² EEZ: 126,000 km² Source: IUCN France 2009 (based on CI/Myers et al., Nature, 2000) EEZ: 2,500,000 km² Status: Overseas department Status: Overseas collectivity 7 The French system of nature conservation Many threats to ecosystems and species Did you know that...? • Guyana has the largest block of But this natural heritage is vulnerable. At the global main groups assessed in the national Red List unfragmented rainforest in the world. level, biodiversity is threatened by the fragmentation are endangered. Some iconic species such as the • The Crozet and Kerguelen Islands and loss of ecosystems, anthropogenic impacts Pyrenean ibex and the Mediterranean monk seal are are home to the most diverse bird on and pollution of natural habitats, introduction now extinct. communities in the southern part of of invasive species, overexploitation of resources the world. and, increasingly, the impacts of climate change. Of The overseas territories are particularly vulnerable, as • New Caledonia is an area of bird all countries, France is home to one of the greatest they are located in five of the 34 biodiversity hotspots. endemism, a centre of plant diversity and a biodiversity hotspot . numbers of endangered species. In total, it hosts 983 Island flora and fauna are under particular threat: 49 of the 100 species considered to be the most invasive It includes four ecoregions. The territory globally endangered species in its territories, both boasts the world’s second-largest metropolitan and overseas.