FRA9 FILE · Environment & planet
Biodiversity: protected parks, species and landscapes
From the Alps to overseas reefs, a natural heritage far larger than it first appears.
National parksOutre-merCoastsSpecies
From the Alps to overseas reefs, a natural heritage far larger than it first appears.
01National parks02Outre-mer03Coasts
In this file01 · An exceptional geography02 · Protection with people present03 · What visitors can do
An exceptional geography
Mainland France, Corsica and overseas territories span mountains, temperate forests, wetlands, the Mediterranean, mangroves and coral reefs. Overseas France contains a crucial share of that diversity.
Key points✦ National parks✦ Outre-mer✦ Coasts✦ Species
Protection with people present
National parks, reserves, regional parks and marine areas do not all follow the same rules. Many balance conservation with farming, fishing, tourism and daily life.
What visitors can do
Staying on trails, respecting nesting periods, limiting noise, avoiding collection and checking each park’s rules sharply reduces a visit’s impact.
Read next
France and climate adaptationHeat, water, forests and coasts: how the country is adapting its regions.
Water in France: supply, restrictions and useWhere water comes from, who uses it and why restrictions vary by department.
FRA9 × LINGSORTFrench for the journeyOpen lesson ↗