It cannot be accessed from the seashore or by any means other than airplane or pirogue via the Maroni and Oyapock rivers.
The protected area covers some 20,300 square kilometres (7,840sqmi) for the central area (where full protection is enforced) and 13,600 square kilometres (5,250sqmi) for the secondary area. Thus, the overall protected area represents some 33,900 square kilometres (13,090sqmi) of rain forest.[2]
In the framework of the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the project of a national park in French Guiana was initiated on June 4, 1992, with the impetus provided by François Mitterrand. This was formalised through a draft agreement signed by the presidents of the general council and of the regional council of French Guiana, and also by the French Ministers of the Environment, of the Overseas Departments and Territories and of Agriculture and Forestry. Following this, in 1993 the Mission for the Creation of the French Guiana National Park was created.
A first project was proposed in late 1995 but was finally rejected in December 1997.
On June 21, 1998, the Twenké agreement led to the recognition of the rights of the native Amerindians and of the Businengue (Maroons) living within the future park's boundaries.
The final project was presented in early 2006. On March 6, 2006, the decree relating to the project of the national park being taken into account was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.[3] Within it, the national park's name was switched to Guiana Amazonian Park.
Forest canopy
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.[4]
Extent
Extent of the park
Within the 20,300 square kilometres (7,840sqmi) central area, maximal protection is enforced and gold mining is strictly forbidden. However, the lands of the Aluku, Wayana, Wayampi and Teko tribes in Camopi, Maripasoula and Papaïchton do not belong to this core area. The Teko considered it a restriction of their free movement,[5] and the Aluku objected to restrictions to their sacred areas.[6] The restriction of all previously acquired rights of the tribal inhabitants resulted the exception of the inhabited tribal zone.[7]
Put together with Tumucumaque National Park (covering some 38,800 square kilometres (14,980sqmi) in neighbouring Brazil), the Guiana Amazonian Park represents the biggest rain forest protected area in the world.
Fauna
In the park there are 90 species of amphibians, 133 reptiles, 520 birds and 182 mammals (including many species of bats) and more than 200 species of freshwater fish[8]
Many cat and canine species are found in the park including the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and bush dog (Speothos venaticus).[9]
There are more than 100 species of bat in French Guyana.[9] These bats play an important role in the dispersal of seeds especially in the dispersal of seeds in open areas.[10] For example, the seeds plants including Cecropia, Solanum, and Vismia are often the first plants to grow in large open areas are readily dispersed by bats. Once the bat dispersed plants begin to grow, conditions improve for other seed dispersing animals such as birds and mammals who will then introduce the seeds of plants they transport into the area.[10] While bats are vital to reforestation efforts, deforestation threatens bat species richness in the region. Forest corridors and forest blocks can effectively improve species richness.[11]
There are more than 700 species of birds in French Guyana with more than 500 species located within the Park.[8][12]
Flora
Forest view from Saül
Tropical forest covers most of the territory of the Park where the number of vascular plants present is estimated at between 4,000 and 5,000 species (including more than 1,000 trees), or a tenth of the world's plant biodiversity.[13] The tallest trees such as the Hura crepitans and Ceiba pentandra can reach 55 to 65 meters in height.[14] A single hectare of forest frequently contains more different species of trees than the entire flora of Metropolitan France.[13]
Tourism
Village of Saül, the main entry point for tourists
Part of the National Parks of France, tourists can access the park. The park includes more than 130km of trails with different levels of accessibility.[15] Near the village of Saül there are 45km of signposted trails designed for tourists. Five trails have been designed for visitors with reduced mobility as part of France's "Amazon for All" program.[16] Other hiking and tourist opportunities exist including trails leading up to Mont Galbao, the inselberg Susu Bella, or Gobaya Soula falls.[16][15]
Related Research Articles
The woolly mouse opossum or long-furred woolly mouse opossum, known locally as the cuíca, is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. Its range includes central Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Brazil. It was formerly assigned to the genus Micoureus, which was made a subgenus of Marmosa in 2009.
Camopi is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. Camopi is mainly inhabited by Amerindians of the Wayampi and Teko tribes.
Emerillon is a language belonging to the Tupi–Guarani family, one of the most heavily researched language families in Amazonia. The languages related most closely to Emerillon are Wayampípukú, Wayampí, and Jo’é.
The Teko are a Tupi–Guarani-speaking people in French Guiana living on the banks of the Camopi and Tampok rivers. Their subsistence is based on horticulture, hunting and various fishing techniques. As of 2010 they numbered about 410 individuals.
The Wayampi or Wayãpi are an indigenous people located in the south-eastern border area of French Guiana at the confluence of the rivers Camopi and Oyapock, and the basins of the Amapari and Carapanatuba Rivers in the central part of the states of Amapá and Pará in Brazil. The number of Wayampi is approximately 2,171 individuals. Approximately 950 live in French Guiana in two main settlements surrounded by little hamlets, and 1,221 live in Brazil in 49 villages.
French Guiana is an overseas department of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas. Bordered by Suriname to the west and Brazil to the east and south, French Guiana covers a land area of 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi), and is inhabited by 301,099 people.
Trois Sauts or Ɨtu wasu is a cluster of four Amerindian Wayampi and Teko villages on the Oyapock River in French Guiana near the border with Brazil. Trois Sauts contains the villages of Roger, Zidock, Yawapa, and Pina.
Mont Itoupé is a 826 metres high mountain on the border of the Camopi and Maripasoula communes in French Guiana, France. It is the second highest mountain in French Guiana after Bellevue de l'Inini. The mountain is located in the Guiana Amazonian Park, and is about 80 kilometres south of Saül.
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