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Environmental information systems
France being the largest country in Western Europe, has a variety of landscapes, with an terrestrial area of close to 638,000km² and a marine areas close to 371,000km² split between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It is bordered by 8 other countries. The highest point is Mont Blanc at 4,809m on the Italian border, the highest mountain in Western Europe. France has a population of 67 million people and a population density of 105.6 people per km².
%
of land
is covered
by protected areas
%
of marine waters
is covered
by protected areas
species
are protected
under EU law
habitats
are protected
under EU law
Sources: Terrestrial protected area coverage by country and in the EU-27 by the end of 2023, Marine protected areas in Europe's seas (2023), Conservation status of habitat types and species: datasets from Article 17, Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC reporting (2013-2018).
In 2023, of 's land was designated as protected areas, above the EU value of 26.4%. With a coverage of in its marine waters, is above the EU value of 13.7%.
Percentage of area covered by protected areas
Evolution of area covered by protected areas
From 2012 to 2023 the share of terrestrial protected areas in increased by 5.2%, above the EU value increase of 1.8%.
National marine protected areas coverage trends are not available because methodological changes prevent a consistent comparison across years.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy has set a target of reaching 30% protected area coverage at the EU level by 2030.
If you want to know more about the Biodiversity Strategy, you can explore the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) and in particular the Dashboard section showing progress of the EU and its Member States towards the Biodiversity Strategy targets set for 2030.
Distribution of protected areas between national designations and Natura 2000
In , more than a half of the protected areas in the terrestrial environment are designated under national laws ( ). The other half consists of Natura 2000 sites ( ). In the marine waters of , of protected areas are designated as Natura 2000 sites, and by the national law.
Spatial distribution of protected areas network
Protected areas designated under national laws
Designated sites in the Natura 2000 network
Size distribution of protected areas network
The size distribution of the protected areas network in France terrestrial environment, aligns with the trend observed in many other EU countries, where the majority of protected areas are smaller than 1km2. Only about 1% of terrestrial protected areas are larger than 1,000km2. However, the distribution of protected areas in the marine waters of France presents a more heterogeneous picture, encompassing a range of sizes, with small protected areas (smaller than 1km2) constituting only 6% of the network and large protected areas (larger than 1,000km2) covering 11% of the network.
A focus on Natura 2000 sites in
has a total of Natura 2000 sites, they are designated under the Birds Directive, encompassing Special Protection Areas (SPA), and the Habitats Directive, encompassing Sites of Community Importance (SCI). Many sites are designated under both Directives.
Species protected in under EU law fall under the Habitats and Birds Directives. hosts protected under the Habitats Directive, which is approximately 21% of the total of the Habitats Directive’s species and protected birds, which is approximately 73% of the species protected under the Birds Directive.
The figures are based on data electronically reported by the Member States under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) on the conservation status of habitat types and species for the 2013–2018 reporting period.
species protected under EU law
species under the Habitats Directive
species under the Birds Directive
Conservation Status of species: Habitats Directive
In , of species assessments indicate a good conservation status, while the EU average corresponds to 27.5%. The proportion of assessments indicating bad conservation status is reaching , compared to the EU average of 20.6%.
Protected species composition by taxonomic group
In , the distribution of protected species across taxonomic groups highlights the prominence of birds, comprising the largest proportion at 53.4%. They are followed by mammals and vascular plants, accounting for 11% of protected species.
Conservation Status by Taxa
In , the assessment of species groups reveals that vascular plants have the highest proportion of species with a good conservation status, standing at 46.8%. Following closely behind are reptiles with 33.3% and arthropods with 32.4% of species in good conservation status. On the other hand, molluscs exhibit the highest percentage of species with a bad conservation status, reaching 56.6%, while fish and amphibians also have a significant proportion of species in bad conservation status at 52.9% and 38.1% respectively.
Habitats protected in under EU law fall under the Habitats Directive. hosts habitat types, which is approximately 55.8% of the total of habitat types protected by the Habitats Directive.
The figures are based on data electronically reported by the Member States under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) on the conservation status of habitat types and species for the 2013–2018 reporting period.
habitats protected under EU law in
Conservation status of habitats
In 20.2% of habitats assessments indicate a good conservation status which is above the EU average of 14.7%. On the other hand, the proportion of assessments indicating a bad conservation status, amounting to 33.7%, is just below the EU average of 35.8%.
Protected habitat composition by group
In the group of protected habitats with the largest number consists of forests, accounting for 22.3% of the total. Following closely behind are coastal and salt-tolerant habitats, encompassing 14.5% of the protected habitats.
Conservation status by group
In the assessment of habitat groups reveals that rocky habitats have the highest proportion of good conservation status, standing at 53.8%. Following behind are sclerophyllous scrub, with 47% of habitat types in good conservation status. On the other hand, grasslands exhibit the highest percentage of habitat types with a bad conservation status, reaching 56.8%, while dune habitats also have a significant proportion of habitat types in bad conservation status at 52.3%.
.
France is predominantly characterised by two main types of ecosystems: agroecosystems, which cover 56.2% of the country, followed by Forest ecosystems occupying 32.1% of the land area. While urban areas account for 6.7% and heathlands contribut to 4.3%, France has relatively smaller proportions of rivers and lakes (0.6%), and wetland ecosystems (0.1%).
The figures are based on the dataset "Ecosystem types of Europe 2012 - Full map (marine and terrestrial habitats) - version 3 revision 1, Feb. 2019".
In terms of the protected area network, forests constitute the largest portion, covering 47.07% of the protected areas. Agroecosystems make up 41.1% of the protected areas, reflecting the importance of conserving and managing agricultural landscapes for biodiversity. Heathlands contribute to 7.1% of the protected areas, while urban areas account for 3.2%. Rivers and lakes represent 1.1%, and wetlands comprise 0.4%.