France Expands Forest Protections by 157,000 Hectares Amid Global Conservation Efforts

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     Published on
        11/06/2026 - 7:02 GMT+2
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From the rainforests of French Guiana to ancient woodlands in eastern France, thousands of hectares of forest are gaining new protections.

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On June 9, France announced the creation of seven new biological reserves and expansion of two existing ones, safeguarding an additional **157,000 hectares** of forest as part of its goal to protect 10% of its land by 2030.

Minister Monique Barbut stated, “This means reduced environmental pressure and stronger safeguards for species and habitats.”

However, 99.5% of the protected area lies in French Guiana’s Armontabo Rocky Peaks reserve, while metropolitan France’s new reserves cover under 1,000 hectares.

Protected Landscapes

The new reserves include diverse ecosystems. The 156,290-hectare Armontabo Rocky Peaks reserve in French Guiana dominates the announcement, featuring tropical rainforests and granite formations.

Other sites range from Vosges’ mountain forests to Hérault’s Mediterranean woodlands, including Buronnières’ ancient forests and Chamalière-Peyre-Ourse’s high-altitude ecosystems.

Some reserves will remain untouched, while others will receive active management to protect vulnerable species, per the ministry’s statement.

This expansion raises France’s ‘strong protection’ coverage to 6.43%, with 276 biological reserves now in place.

Global 30×30 Targets

Worldwide, governments are establishing protected areas to meet the 2030 goal of conserving 30% of land and sea, known as the 30×30 target.

On World Environment Day, UNESCO designated 14 new biosphere reserves across 11 countries, including locations in Italy, Mongolia, and Saudi Arabia. This follows last year’s addition of 26 reserves across 11 nations, described as an “unprecedented expansion.”

Biosphere reserves support biodiversity, research, education, and sustainable development, now spanning hundreds of millions of hectares in over 130 countries.

Contrasting Global Trends

Not all nations align with France’s approach.

Brazil’s recent ‘devastation bill’—which eased environmental regulations and prioritized certain projects—faces backlash from conservation groups. Similarly, under the Trump administration, the U.S. expanded commercial activities in national forests while opening vast marine areas to fishing.

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