France

The country of France in western Europe borders the Atlantic Ocean at the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. French territories include French Guiana on the northeastern coast of South America; the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean Sea; and the islands of Mayotte and Reunion in the southern Indian Ocean. Most of the country is used for human activities, in its majority by rainfed agriculture. France has high biodiversity rarity of terrestrial land vertebrates at a global scale. When analysed as single taxons, the rarity of amphibians, birds and reptiles is also high. Challenges to biodiversity in France and its territories include forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; and water pollution from urban wastes and agricultural runoff.