France

6804
Total Protected Areas
17 With management effectiveness evaluations
Terrestrial and Inland Waters Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Other effective area-based conservation measures
0
Total Other effective area-based conservation measures
Polygons/Points ratio
Polygons 100%
Points 0%
Discover Protected Areas and OECMs
Terrestrial and Inland Waters Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Other effective area-based conservation measures
ON
Map Disclaimer
The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

• Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.
• Final boundary between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined.
• Final status of the Abyei area is not yet determined.
• A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

Terrestrial and inland waters protected area coverage

28.62% Coverage

157,219km2 Land area covered

549,359km2 Total land area

29.50% 6th National Report coverage

PAME

0.91% With management effectiveness evaluations

5,019km2 Areas assessed

Marine protected area Coverage

49.76% Coverage

173,029km2 Marine and coastal area covered

347,760km2 Total marine and coastal area

22.91% 6th National Report coverage

PAME

0.03% With management effectiveness evaluations

95km2 Areas assessed

Disclaimer: These statistics might differ from those reported officially by countries due to difference in methodologies and datasets used to assess protected area coverage and differences in the base maps used to measure terrestrial and marine area of a country or territory.

IUCN Management Categories

SeriesChart100%Chart created using amCharts library

Governance types

SeriesChart100%Chart created using amCharts library

Sources 9

  1. Common Database on Designated Areas as provided by the European Environment Agency (EEA) Updated: 2024 European Environment Agency (EEA)
  2. Protected Areas of France Updated: 1999 Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France
  3. UNESCO World Heritage Sites Updated: 2024 IUCN World Heritage Programme
  4. Site Ramsar (France) Updated: 2017 Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel
  5. Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance Updated: 2020 Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA)
  6. Natura 2000 Updated: 2024 Directorate-General for Environment (EU) via EEA
  7. OSPAR Marine Protected Areas Network Updated: 2021 OSPAR Commission, Victoria House, 37-63 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4DA, UK
  8. Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance Updated: 2023 Ramsar Secretariat, on behalf of Ramsar Contracting Parties
  9. UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve Updated: 2020 UNESCO-MAB

Designations

  • 72.77%
  • 26.53%
  • 0.71%

National designations

4951
  • Biotope Protection Order 1004
  • Corsican Nature Reserve 7
  • Forest Integral Biological Reserve 85
  • Forest Managed Biological Reserve 175
  • Geotope Protection Order 187
  • Land acquired by a regional conservatory of natural areas 2417
  • Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) 623
  • Marine Nature Park 6
  • National Hunting and Wildlife Reserve 11
  • National Nature Reserve 151
  • National Park - Buffer zone/Area of adhesion 8
  • National Park - Core Area 8
  • National Park - Integrale Reserve 4
  • Natural habitats protection Order 12
  • Protected perimeter around a national nature reserve 16
  • Regional Nature Park 56
  • Regional Nature Reserve 181

Regional designations

1805
  • Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) 39
  • Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 1339
  • Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) 15
  • Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (Barcelona Convention) 5
  • Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 407

International designations

48
  • Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 37
  • UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 8
  • World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) 3

Other designations

0

    citation

    UNEP-WCMC (2025). Protected Area Profile for France from the World Database on Protected Areas, February 2025. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net