1.04 Forests of Overseas "Départements" DOM: what areas, diversity and resources?
Forêt le long du fleuve Oyapock (frontière Guyane-Brésil) - Source : ©GFeuillet-PAG-341 Oyapock CEN Guyane
Rainforest along the Oyapock River (French Guiana-Brazil border)
The article in brief
(online 07/2015, update 12/2019)
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France owns an important and rich tropical forest heritage in its overseas departments and regions
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French Guiana is the most important in terms of area (8 M ha), but the rate of forest cover of other French overseas departments is also high.
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The main management issues are: a rational use of the resource, a control of human pressure, especially in the islands, the preservation of an exceptional biodiversity, the role of
these ecosystems for recreation and ecotourism
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A joint research unit on rainforest ecology based in Kourou (French Guiana) allows France to play an international role in advancing scientific knowledge in the field of ecosystems
diversity and functioning