Guiana Amazonian Park (French: Parc amazonien de Guyane) is the largest national park in France. It is designed to protect part of the Amazonian forest in French Guiana, which covers 41% of the region. It is also the largest park in the European Union and one of the largest national parks in the world.

Access to the park is only possible by airplane or by canoe through the Maroni and Oyapock rivers. It cannot be reached from the seashore or by other methods.

The protected area includes 20,300 square kilometers (7,840 square miles) in the central region, where full protection is enforced, and 13,600 square kilometers (5,250 square miles) in the secondary area. Together, these areas cover about 33,900 square kilometers (13,090 square miles) of rainforest.

The park is located on lands within the communes of Camopi, Maripasoula, Papaïchton, Saint-Élie, and Saül. Like other national parks in France, it is managed by the French Office for Biodiversity.

History

In 1992, during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, a plan to create a national park in French Guiana was started by François Mitterrand. This plan was signed by leaders from French Guiana and French officials, including the ministers of the Environment, Overseas Departments and Territories, and Agriculture and Forestry. In 1993, a group called the Mission for the Creation of the French Guiana National Park was formed to work on the project.

A first plan was proposed in late 1995 but was not approved in December 1997. On June 21, 1998, the Twenké agreement recognized the rights of the native Amerindians and Businengue (Maroons) who live in the area where the park would be created.

A final plan was shared in early 2006. On March 6, 2006, a government decision to consider the park project was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic. This decision also changed the park’s name to Guiana Amazonian Park.

The park was officially created by a government decision on February 28, 2007, even though some groups, including the general and regional councils of French Guiana, were not in favor. The park’s governing body first met on June 7, 2007.

Extent

In the central area covering 20,300 square kilometers (7,840 square miles), the strongest protection is enforced, and gold mining is not allowed. However, the lands of the Aluku, Wayana, Wayampi, and Teko tribes in Camopi, Maripasoula, and Papaïchton are not part of this protected zone. The Teko felt it limited their freedom to move, and the Aluku were against limits on their sacred lands. The restriction of rights they already had led to the exception of the tribal areas.

Combined with Tumucumaque National Park (covering about 38,800 square kilometers (14,980 square miles) in neighboring Brazil), the Guiana Amazonian Park is the largest protected rainforest area in the world.

Fauna

In the park, there are 90 species of amphibians, 133 reptiles, 520 birds, 182 mammals (including many species of bats), and more than 200 species of freshwater fish.

The park has several new world primates, including the Guyanan red howler (Alouatta macconnelli), wedge-capped capuchin (Cebus olivaceus), tufted capuchin (Sapajus apella), white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia), golden-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas), and red-faced spider monkey (Ateles paniscus).

• Wedge-capped capuchin
• White-faced saki
• Red-faced spider monkey

Possum species found in the park include the bare-tailed woolly opossum (Caluromys philander), Guianan white-eared opossum (Didelphis imperfecta), common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), woolly mouse opossum (Marmosa demerarae), Linnaeus's mouse opossum (Marmosa murina), delicate slender opossum (Marmosops parvidens), Pinheiro's slender opossum (Marmosops pinheiroi), brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus), Touan short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis touan), Gray four-eyed opossum (Philander opossum), water opossum (Chironectes minimus), bushy-tailed opossum (Glironia cf. venusta), Kalinowski's mouse opossum (Hyladelphys kalinowskii), and Rufous mouse opossum (Marmosa lepida). Some of these species are rare or have unknown population numbers.

Many cat and canine species live in the park, including the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and bush dog (Speothos venaticus).

• Ocelot
• Margay
• Jaguarundi

Mustelids in the park include the tayra (Eira barbara), greater grison (Galictis vittata), and neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis).

Procyonidae in the park include the South American coati (Nasua nasua), kinkajou (Potos flavus), and crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus).

• South American coati
• Kinkajou
• Crab-eating raccoon

Porcupines in the park include the black-tailed hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou melanurus) and Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis).

Armadillos in the park include the greater long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus kappleri), nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), and giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus).

Anteaters in the park include the silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), and southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla).

• Silky anteater
• Giant anteater
• Southern tamandua

There are more than 100 species of bat in French Guyana. Bats help spread seeds, especially in open areas. For example, the seeds of plants like Cecropia, Solanum, and Vismia often grow in large open areas because bats spread them. When these plants grow, they create better conditions for other animals, like birds and mammals, to spread more seeds. Bats are important for reforestation, but deforestation threatens the number of bat species in the region. Forest corridors and forest blocks can help increase the number of bat species.

Other mammals in the park include the collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu), red brocket (Mazama americana), Amazonian brown brocket (Mazama nemorivaga), Guianan squirrel (Sciurus aestuans), Neotropical pygmy squirrel (Sciurillus pusillus), capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), red acouchi (Myoprocta acouchy), lowland paca (Cuniculus paca), three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus), and several species of rodents.

• Red brocket
• Capybara
• Three-toed sloth

There are more than 700 species of birds in French Guyana, with more than 500 of them living in the Park.

Flora

The tropical forest covers most of the Park's area. Scientists estimate that between 4,000 and 5,000 species of vascular plants live there, including over 1,000 types of trees. This number represents about one-tenth of all plant life found worldwide. The tallest trees, such as Hura crepitans and Ceiba pentandra, can grow to heights of 55 to 65 meters. A single hectare of forest often has more different tree species than all the plant life found in Metropolitan France.

Tourism

Tourists can visit the park, which is part of the National Parks of France. The park has more than 130 kilometers of trails with different accessibility levels. Near the village of Saül, there are 45 kilometers of marked trails for visitors. Five trails are specifically designed for people with reduced mobility as part of France's "Amazon for All" program. Other hiking and tourist activities are available, including trails that lead to Mont Galbao, the inselberg Susu Bella, or Gobaya Soula falls.