France

C

Natural Resources

France is richly endowed with an excellent balance of both mineral (particularly iron ore and coal) and agricultural resources. In addition, France has sizeable deposits of antimony, bauxite, magnesium, pyrites, tungsten, salt, potash, radioactive materials, lead, and zinc. Production of natural gas, petroleum, and sulphur is being developed.

France has extensive tracts of fertile soils, the richest of which are the marine sediments of the Paris Basin and the well-watered alluvial soils of the lower valleys of the Seine and Somme rivers.

D

Plants and Animals

The native plant life of France shows the variety characteristic of continental Europe. It ranges from arctic-alpine lichens and mosses to such semi-tropical species as olive and orange trees. Various species of both coniferous and deciduous trees are found in the forests, which cover about 14.7 million hectares (36.3 million acres), or about 27 per cent of the area of France. The principal forest trees are the chestnut, beech, oak, cork, walnut, fir, and pine. Like that of western Europe generally, the fauna of France includes few specimens of the larger mammals; the most common of these are the deer and the fox. The chamois is found in the higher Alpine regions, and the wolf and wild boar survive in remote forest areas. Among the smaller animals found in the region are the porcupine and several carnivores of the weasel family. France has a wide variety and abundance of bird life, including both indigenous and migratory species. Reptiles are rare, and the only venomous reptile in France is the adder. Carp are the most characteristic freshwater fish found in the country. The Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal waters contain numerous species of fish, including cod, herring, whiting, mackerel, flounder, sardine, and tuna.

E

Environmental Concerns

Some of the rivers in France are polluted by sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural run-off. Major efforts to improve water quality include building more treatment plants and imposing pollution charges. Air pollution, caused by vehicle exhaust and combustion of fossil fuels, is a significant environmental problem in the major cities. France derives 76 per cent of its electricity from 58 operating nuclear power plants (1998) and the remainder from coal, oil, and hydroelectric power. The country has one of the lowest levels of carbon dioxide emissions among industrialized countries because of its heavy reliance on nuclear energy.

The history of land conservation in France dates from the Middle Ages, when the management of certain forests was prescribed. The government of France approved the first environmental legislation in 1930, and has since enacted various laws establishing the authority and duty of the state in protecting different types of habitats. There are national parks, regional reserves, and also coastal, lakeside, and marine sanctuaries in various parts of the country. France has established seven biosphere reserves as part of its commitment to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Program. Five of these are in France itself, and two lie within French territories. Forests and woodlands cover about one-quarter of the country, and nearly 11.7 per cent (1997) of the total land area of the country is protected. Some forests have been damaged by acid rain. France accepted the World Heritage Convention in 1975 and ratified the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1986. Other international agreements to which France is party include those on air pollution, climate change, ozone layer, hazardous wastes, marine dumping, ship pollution, marine life, endangered species, tropical timber, and whaling.

III

Population

About 94 per cent of the French are native-born, and the population is mostly white. The largest foreign-born groups are North Africans (mainly Algerians, Moroccans, and Tunisians), Portuguese, Italians, Spanish, and Turks.

A

Population Characteristics

The population of France is 61,083,916 (2007 estimate), giving the country an overall population density of about 112 people per sq km (290 people per sq mi). About 77 per cent of the population is classified as urban.