Guiana Amazonian Park
Encyclopedia
Guiana Amazonian Park is one of the nine national parks of France, aiming at protecting part of the amazonian forest located in French Guiana
. This is the largest French national park and one of the largest national parks in the world.
It cannot be accessed from the sea-shore or by any other means other than by airplane or pirogue
.
The protected area covers some 20300 square kilometres (7,837.9 sq mi) for the central area (where full protection is enforced) and 13600 square kilometres (5,251 sq mi) for the secondary area. Thus, the overall protected area represents some 33900 square kilometres (13,088.9 sq mi) of rain forest.
The park has been built upon territories belonging to the communes of Camopi
, Maripasoula
, Papaïchton
, Saint-Élie
and Saül
.
in French Guiana has been initiated on June 4, 1992, with the impetus provided by François Mitterrand
. This has been formalised through a draft agreement signed by both presidents of the general council
and of the regional council of French Guiana, but also by the French Ministers of the Environment
, of the Overseas Departments and Territories and of the Agriculture and Forestry. As a following, has been created in 1993 the Mission for the Creation of the French Guiana National Park.
A first project has been proposed in late 1995 but was finally rejected in December 1997.
On June 21, 1998, the Twenké agreement led to the recognition of rights of the native Amerindians and of the Businengue (Maroons
) living within the future park's boundaries.
The final project has been presented in early 2006. On March 6, 2006, the decree related to the project of national park being taken into account has been published in the Official Journal of the French Republic
. Within it, the national park's name had been switched to Guiana Amazonian Park.
The creation of the park was made effective by decree on February 28, 2007, despite the reluctance of several protagonists involved (general council
and regional council of French Guiana). The park's governing body met for the first time on June 7, 2007.
is strictly forbidden. However, the lands of the Wayana
s and of the Tekos
of Maripasoula
do not belong to this core area, despite the fact that these Amerindian tribes had raised such a claim prior to park's effective creation.
Put together with Tumucumaque National Park
(covering some 38800 square kilometres (14,980.8 sq mi) in neighbouring Brazil
), the Guiana Amazonian Park represents the biggest rain forest protected area in the whole world.
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
. This is the largest French national park and one of the largest national parks in the world.
It cannot be accessed from the sea-shore or by any other means other than by airplane or pirogue
Pirogue
A pirogue is a small, flat-bottomed boat of a design associated particularly with the Cajuns of the Louisiana marsh. In West Africa they were used as traditional fishing boats. These boats are not usually intended for overnight travel but are light and small enough to be easily taken onto land...
.
The protected area covers some 20300 square kilometres (7,837.9 sq mi) for the central area (where full protection is enforced) and 13600 square kilometres (5,251 sq mi) for the secondary area. Thus, the overall protected area represents some 33900 square kilometres (13,088.9 sq mi) of rain forest.
The park has been built upon territories belonging to the communes of Camopi
Camopi
Camopi is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. With a land area of , it is the third-largest commune of France....
, Maripasoula
Maripasoula
Maripasoula is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. With a land area of , Maripasoula is the largest commune of France, and is recognized as the fourteenth largest city in the world by surface area....
, Papaïchton
Papaïchton
Papaïchton is a commune in the overseas region and department of French Guiana...
, Saint-Élie
Saint-Élie
Saint-Élie is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. It was formerly capital of the Inini territory.-References:*...
and Saül
Saül
Saül is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America.It is very remote, surrounded by dense rainforest and, because there are no roads to the town, it can only be reached by airplane....
.
History
In the framework of the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the project of a national parkNational park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in French Guiana has been initiated on June 4, 1992, with the impetus provided by François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
. This has been formalised through a draft agreement signed by both presidents of the general council
General councils (France)
The General councils are assemblies of the French departments. They are elected by universal suffrage.-List of the Presidents of the General councils:-External links:*...
and of the regional council of French Guiana, but also by the French Ministers of the Environment
Minister of the Environment (France)
The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing is an agency of the government of France, centred around a cabinet member who is often referred to as the "Minister of Ecology". This position is occupied by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet...
, of the Overseas Departments and Territories and of the Agriculture and Forestry. As a following, has been created in 1993 the Mission for the Creation of the French Guiana National Park.
A first project has been proposed in late 1995 but was finally rejected in December 1997.
On June 21, 1998, the Twenké agreement led to the recognition of rights of the native Amerindians and of the Businengue (Maroons
Maroon (people)
Maroons were runaway slaves in the West Indies, Central America, South America, and North America, who formed independent settlements together...
) living within the future park's boundaries.
The final project has been presented in early 2006. On March 6, 2006, the decree related to the project of national park being taken into account has been published in the Official Journal of the French Republic
Journal Officiel de la République Française
The Journal Officiel de la République Française is the official gazette of the French Republic. It publishes the major legal official information from the national Government of France.-Publications:...
. Within it, the national park's name had been switched to Guiana Amazonian Park.
The creation of the park was made effective by decree on February 28, 2007, despite the reluctance of several protagonists involved (general council
General councils (France)
The General councils are assemblies of the French departments. They are elected by universal suffrage.-List of the Presidents of the General councils:-External links:*...
and regional council of French Guiana). The park's governing body met for the first time on June 7, 2007.
Extent
Within the 20300 square kilometres (7,837.9 sq mi) central area, maximal protection is enforced and gold miningGold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
is strictly forbidden. However, the lands of the Wayana
Wayana
The Wayana are a Carib-speaking people located in the south-eastern part of the Guiana highlands, a region divided between Brazil, Surinam, and French Guiana...
s and of the Tekos
TeKoS
TeKoS is a Belgian "Nieuw Rechts" publication. It is published by the DeltaFoundation .As with other Nouvelle Droite publications, the themes in TeKoS are related to European culture, European nationalism, anti-egalitarianism and ecologism...
of Maripasoula
Maripasoula
Maripasoula is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. With a land area of , Maripasoula is the largest commune of France, and is recognized as the fourteenth largest city in the world by surface area....
do not belong to this core area, despite the fact that these Amerindian tribes had raised such a claim prior to park's effective creation.
Put together with Tumucumaque National Park
Tumucumaque National Park
The Tumucumaque National Park is situated in northwestern Brazil inside the Amazon Rainforest state of Amapá. It’s bordered to the north by French Guyana and Suriname....
(covering some 38800 square kilometres (14,980.8 sq mi) in neighbouring Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
), the Guiana Amazonian Park represents the biggest rain forest protected area in the whole world.