Overview of the threats to the fauna and flora of the French overseas territories: insights from the National Red List
Abstract
This study assesses the main threats to biodiversity in nine French overseas territories, drawing on data from the National Red List of Threatened Species. Covering 905 threatened species across ten taxonomic groups (vascular flora, terrestrial and marine mammals, terrestrial and marine birds, amphibians, terrestrial reptiles, marine turtles, freshwater and coral reef fishes, insects, terrestrial and freshwater molluscs, freshwater macrocrustaceans and corals) and focusing on nine territories: Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion, Mayotte, Scattered Islands, French Southern lands, Adélie Coast and French Polynesia, the analysis categorizes threats according to the IUCN’s direct threats framework, based on data from Red List assessment workshops. For five of the nine territories considered, for which data were available, maps comparing the density of threatened species identified in the Red List with the current distribution of protected areas are proposed for information purposes, in order to highlight any convergence and divergence. Results identify invasive alien species as the predominant threat, affecting 49% of terrestrial and marine species (n = 443 species), especially in island regions. Urban and commercial development is the second major threat, impacting 33% of species (n = 299 species), with notable effects in French Guiana and Reunion, while habitat degradation induced by agriculture and livestock farming affect 27% of species (n = 245 species), particularly in rural areas of Mayotte and Guadeloupe. Additionally, concentration maps of threatened species show that some areas, such as Martinique and Mayotte, are still insufficiently covered by protected areas. While most areas with a high density of threatened species are included in local strategies for the establishment of protected areas and other conservation documents, some had not, to our knowledge, been previously identified. This underscores the urgency of managing invasive species and safeguarding habitats against other increasing human pressures. These findings offer insights to guide decision-makers, conservation managers and civil society in strengthening conservation efforts in these vulnerable territories.
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BibTeX
@article{lacoste2026overview,
title = {{Overview of the threats to the fauna and flora of the French overseas territories: insights from the National Red List}},
author = {Nathalie de Bouillane de Lacoste and Guillemette Labadie and Shankar Meyer and Jean Ichter and Arzhvaël Jeusset and Guillaume Gigot},
journal = {Naturae},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.5852/naturae2026a11},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05778816v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Overview of the threats to the fauna and flora of the French overseas territories: insights from the National Red List
AU - Nathalie de Bouillane de Lacoste
AU - Guillemette Labadie
AU - Shankar Meyer
AU - Jean Ichter
AU - Arzhvaël Jeusset
AU - Guillaume Gigot
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Naturae
DO - 10.5852/naturae2026a11
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05778816v1
AB - This study assesses the main threats to biodiversity in nine French overseas territories, drawing on data from the National Red List of Threatened Species. Covering 905 threatened species across ten taxonomic groups (vascular flora, terrestrial and marine mammals, terrestrial and marine birds, amphibians, terrestrial reptiles, marine turtles, freshwater and coral reef fishes, insects, terrestrial and freshwater molluscs, freshwater macrocrustaceans and corals) and focusing on nine territories: Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion, Mayotte, Scattered Islands, French Southern lands, Adélie Coast and French Polynesia, the analysis categorizes threats according to the IUCN’s direct threats framework, based on data from Red List assessment workshops. For five of the nine territories considered, for which data were available, maps comparing the density of threatened species identified in the Red List with the current distribution of protected areas are proposed for information purposes, in order to highlight any convergence and divergence. Results identify invasive alien species as the predominant threat, affecting 49% of terrestrial and marine species (n = 443 species), especially in island regions. Urban and commercial development is the second major threat, impacting 33% of species (n = 299 species), with notable effects in French Guiana and Reunion, while habitat degradation induced by agriculture and livestock farming affect 27% of species (n = 245 species), particularly in rural areas of Mayotte and Guadeloupe. Additionally, concentration maps of threatened species show that some areas, such as Martinique and Mayotte, are still insufficiently covered by protected areas. While most areas with a high density of threatened species are included in local strategies for the establishment of protected areas and other conservation documents, some had not, to our knowledge, been previously identified. This underscores the urgency of managing invasive species and safeguarding habitats against other increasing human pressures. These findings offer insights to guide decision-makers, conservation managers and civil society in strengthening conservation efforts in these vulnerable territories.
SN - 2553-8756
ER -