Plant & Animal Life in France
The nation of France in western Europe is home to a vast array of indigenous plants and animals. Its diverse ecological regions, which stretch from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea, enjoy temperate climates, rich soils and reliable rainfall levels. These characteristics create a favorable habitat for the nation's many native species.
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Holarctic Region
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The vegetation characteristics of the northern part of France are similar to other Holarctic, or nontropical, regions in western Europe. Indigenous tree species in the northwest include oak, chestnut, pine and beech. Human clearance of forestry in this region has also given way to large tracts of low-lying heather, gorse and bracken. The limestone plateaus of Massif Central that carve up central France are rife with lavender, juniper and heath. In the northeast, larch, beech and Norway maples flourish.
Mediterranean Region
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The southern tip of France is more closely related in climate to its Mediterranean neighbors than its neighbors to the north. The vegetation in this region must withstand the decidedly warmer temperatures and the frequent summer droughts. The evergreen oak and cork oak thrive here, as does the umbrella pine. The cistus, a perennial shrub, and the hardy tree heather cover the countryside of Roussillon. In addition, an evergreen shrub called "garigue" is a common sight in Provence, which is home to most of the country's many vineyards and citrus groves.
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Animal Life
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Animal varieties in France are similar to those in other western European countries. Red deer and roe deer are common large mammals in France, as is the wild boar. Stone martens and pine martens, members of the weasel family, are native to the country. Other rodents prevalent in France include the muskrat, the red squirrel and various rabbits and hares. Predatory animals like the fox, the wolf and the genet abound as well. Southern France is on the migration route of several birds, like the flamingo, the Egyptian vulture and the black-winged stilt.
Endangered Species
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Due to prolific hunting and deforestation, several of France's indigenous animal species are in danger of extinction. Brown bear sightings are rare, as are sightings of the lynx and the marmot. The Corsican deer and the Pyrenean ibex have also dwindled in numbers. Seals, which were once abundant on the French coast, are all but extinct. To combat the problem, France has instituted breeding programs that hope to reintroduce various species. The populations of storks and chamois--a mountain antelope--have increased as result of such programs.
Reforestation Efforts
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Since the 16th century, France has maintained an interest in the preservation of its forestland. In recent years, by subsidizing ambitious replanting projects, the French government has succeeded in reforesting approximately 5.2 million acres of land. A reforesting project in the Landes region of southwestern France saw yearly increases of .04 percent from 1990 to 2000. In 2000, 28 percent of France's total area was forestland, which makes the country the third most densely forested nation in the European Union.
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References
- Photo Credit provence image by Philippe LERIDON from Fotolia.com
