Biodiversity Reserve

The only European outermost region located on the South American continent, French Guiana shares a great deal of natural wealth with the Amazon, being largely covered by forests and an impressive hydrographic network. Covered 90% by forest, a third of which is under the protection of the Guiana Amazonian Park and the Guiana Regional Nature Park, French Guiana is an Eldorado for hikers. Although the vast majority of the territory is inaccessible, nature flourishes right on the doorstep of the cities.

Largest French and European National Park

The Amazon Park is connected with the Tumucumaque Mountains Park in Brazil. Each of them represents the largest national park in their respective countries. With a total area of 7.3 million hectares, together these two national parks form the largest protected tropical area and natural reserve in the world! The natural space stretches as far as the eye can see in the French Amazon. The Guyanese macrocosm encompasses various plant formations in which numerous ecosystems evolve. In French Guiana, each species, whether plant or animal, has its place and plays a determining role in this natural civilisation which it is important to preserve.

The infinite wonders of flora and fauna

The richness of the species, which is still being inventoried in French Guiana, can be highlighted in a few figures in the Amazonian Park of French Guiana through its biodiversity. On a single hectare of forest, there are more species than the entire flora of mainland France counts, with up to 300 species growing from the ground to the canopy! The 1,500 different trees are only the tip of the iceberg, since here there are also a multitude of epiphytic plants (including 300 species of orchids inventoried), lianas, mosses, lichens, ferns? Enjoying this exceptional environment, wildlife of all kinds is having a field day. Obviously, it is first and foremost the smallest that thrive: no less than 524 families of arthropods (insects, spiders, scorpions, bark beetles, millipedes) with a few local stars such as the superb Morpho with its large metallic blue wings or the Matoutou, the most docile hairy spider in the world! To get to know all this little world, go to the Planeur Bleu Museum in Cacao.

Not always visible but quite audible, the 132 species of amphibians make a racket at nightfall. Between the harmless gargoyle-like buffalo toad and the poisonous Dendrobathe Tinctorius, a small frog with a colourful coat, it can be said that the habit does not make the monk!

As far as mammals are concerned, Guyana nevertheless has some very exotic specimens among the 189 known species: small monkeys (saïmiris), golden-handed tamarinds, the atèle, red howler monkeys, but also the puma, the ocelot and above all, at the top of the food chain, the rare jaguar. There are also strange mammals, agoutis, anteaters, pekaris, tapirs, possums, armadillos, lazy, as funny to our eyes as they are fierce...the monk!

Under water, fresh or salt, the multitude is still the rule. From the mythical aïmara to the no less mythical piranha, from the otter to the caiman, from groupers to the anthology of thazards, the aquatic environment is a bubble of life! Moving show, every season (from January to August), sea turtles come to lay their eggs on the Guyanese shores, including the famous Leatherback turtle.

In the air, there are more than 560 species of breeding birds, including some emblematic stars such as the red ibis, toucans, macaws and the ferocious harpy (the largest bird of prey in America).

To sum up, French Guiana is a rich and resourceful land with a procession of emblematic and typical species of Amazonian fauna: jaguar, primates, giant otter, tapir, caimans and boas, colourful dendrobats, giant beetles, metal-coloured morpho butterflies...

It is a nature reserve covering 95% of the territory with an immeasurable amount of plant and animal resources, making it a land rich in biodiversity.

Between jungle and river...

The main component of the landscapes of the Amazonian Park of French Guiana is the monumental tropical rainforest, interspersed with large river continuums where calm waters alternate with tumultuous jumps. The immense exuberant forest cover is punctuated by reliefs, the highest of which reach almost 850 m in altitude.The hydrographic network is very dense: water is omnipresent throughout the territory and is part of the daily life of the populations of the Maroni and Oyapock, for whom the river is a source of food, a means of communication, a support for daily uses as well as symbolic and social values.

HAVE A LOOK

Some privileged natural sites to discover the fauna and flora of French Guiana :

Written by Rodolph RODRIC, on 10/19/2020

Biodiversity Reserve

Largest French and European National Park

The infinite wonders of flora and fauna

Between jungle and river...

Some privileged natural sites to discover the fauna and flora of French Guiana :

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