Conservation and management in the French sub-Antarctic islands and surrounding seas

Abstract

Of the French islands in the Southern Indian Ocean, Archipel Crozet and Iles Kerguelen are considered sub-Antarctic, and Ile Amsterdamand Ile Saint-Paul temperate. All have endemic species amongst their biota. The Terres Australes et Antarctiques Franyaises (TAAF) isresponsible for sovereignty of these islands, the French Polar Institute (IPEV) is the central agency for research, and the Committee forthe Polar Environment (CEP) provides advice on environmental protection and management issues. In 2006 all of the islands gainedthe status of Nature Reserve, and a management plan is expected to be in place within three years, providing greater protection for theenvironment and biota.