New Protected Area Saves 370,000 Acres in French Guiana

The French government has announced a big win for nature. They created a new protected area in French Guiana. This reserve covers 370,000 acres of land. It is part of a new law to protect wild places. This move is a huge victory for biodiversity. Biodiversity means a healthy variety of life in one place.

The new reserve is named the Rocky Peaks of Armontabo. The name comes from the giant granite mountains there. These peaks rise sharply from the ground. They stand alone instead of forming a long chain. The mountains are surrounded by thick rainforest. This forest has many different types of plants and animals.

This protection law also helped seven other areas in mainland France. However, those areas are much smaller. They add up to less than 2,400 acres. This small number shows how much natural beauty France has overseas. French Guiana is in South America but is ruled by France. It has rich natural resources that need care.

French Guiana has more than one thousand tree species. This variety is rare and very valuable. Scientists check forest health using a score called the forest-integrity index. This score shows how undisturbed a forest remains. French Guiana has one of the highest scores in the world. About 41% of its land is covered by the Amazon Rainforest.