National Parks surface areas in France 2019, by zones
The Amazonian Park of French Guiana is the largest French national park. Its central protection zone, or "heart," covers more than 2 million hectares, while its peripheral zone covers more than 1.4 million hectares.
The central zone is subject to restrictions provided for in the national parks' charter. Thus, the communes of the peripheral zones only commit themselves to carry out a culture of sustainable development on their territory.
The Vanoise National Park was the first French national park, inaugurated on July 6, 1963. Located in the heart of the French Alps, its central zone extends over more than 50,000 hectares. The central zones of protection also concern marine areas. Since 1963 and the opening of the Port-Cros National Park, the French state has set up its specific protection zones to preserve exceptional seabeds, such as those of Guadeloupe or the Reunion Island for example.
The central zone is subject to restrictions provided for in the national parks' charter. Thus, the communes of the peripheral zones only commit themselves to carry out a culture of sustainable development on their territory.
The Vanoise National Park was the first French national park, inaugurated on July 6, 1963. Located in the heart of the French Alps, its central zone extends over more than 50,000 hectares. The central zones of protection also concern marine areas. Since 1963 and the opening of the Port-Cros National Park, the French state has set up its specific protection zones to preserve exceptional seabeds, such as those of Guadeloupe or the Reunion Island for example.
