ATF

The French Southern Territories make up the largest nature reserve in France, combining the archipelagos of Crozet, Kerguelen, and the islands of St. Paul and Amsterdam. They are both terrestrial and marine protected areas unique in size and rich in biodiversity. The still almost intact biological heritage of the French oceanic islands is of considerable richness. The pronounced endemism, the very strong trophic relationship between the marine and terrestrial domains, the extreme isolation, and the remoteness of all sources of contamination, make these sub-Antarctic islands original environments without equivalent. They are of exceptional interest for the conservation of biodiversity. The Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres Australes Française was designated as a Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, in 2006 and was Green Listed in 2018. It is currently under IUCN management category Ia, with sub national ministry governance. Located near the polar front and the subtropical convergence, the waters are particularly rich in pelagic species, which feed seabirds, pinnipeds and cetaceans. Crozet and Kerguelen host a population of large blue whales, a species with a very poor conservation status. The islands also have 70 species of native vascular plants, including 24 endemic species to the sub-Antarctic region. The endemic tree, Phylica arborea, is present on the island of Amsterdam. The main objective of this reserve is the protection and management of natural areas for the maintenance of the global biodiversity of the Southern Lands.