Key facts
- France has added 157,000 hectares of protected forest land.
- Most of the newly protected land is in French Guiana.
- France aims to place 10% of its land under strong protection by 2030.
- The expansion increases France's strongly protected territory to 6.43%.
France has announced the creation of new protected forest areas, safeguarding an additional 157,000 hectares. The vast majority of this land, approximately 99.5%, is located in French Guiana, France's overseas territory in South America, with the largest single reserve being the Armontabo Rocky Peaks integral reserve covering 156,290 hectares of tropical rainforest.
This expansion is part of France's broader goal to place 10% of its territory under 'strong protection' by 2030, a status where human activities are significantly restricted to preserve ecosystems. The recent additions bring the total area under strong protection to 6.43% and increase the number of biological reserves to 276. While metropolitan France saw smaller additions across eight new reserves, the focus on French Guiana highlights a strategic approach to conservation in its overseas territories.
Globally, nations are working towards the '30x30' target to conserve 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030. UNESCO recently designated 14 new biosphere reserves across 11 countries, continuing an expansion of its global network aimed at protecting biodiversity and supporting sustainable development.
However, not all countries are increasing environmental protections. Brazil has enacted a law that eases environmental licensing, and under Donald Trump, the U.S. has seen actions that opened protected marine areas to commercial fishing and proposed increased commercial activities in national forests.