The French Biodiversity Agency

The French Biodiversity Agency supports the World Heritage Marine Programme since 2015 by strengthening the application of the 1972 World Heritage Convention for marine protected areas of Outstanding Universal Value. The partnership supports the Programme in its work toward increasing global awareness and scientific understanding on the impacts of climate change on World Heritage-listed coral reefs, strengthening the global network of World Heritage marine managers and exploring the protection of Outstanding Universal Value in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) is France’s central operator for terrestrial, aquatic and marine biodiversity. Ocean protection is one of its priorities. The OFB supports the implementation of public policies in the field of knowledge, conservation, management and restoration of terrestrial, aquatic and marine biodiversity. The OFB falls under the French Ministries for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, and for Agriculture and Food. The OFB also has the mission to reach out to the public and to mobilize citizens for actions in favour of biodiversity.  

The OFB, created in 2019, merges since January 1, 2020 the French Agency for Biodiversity (2016-2019) and the National Office for Hunting and Wildlife (1972-2019). The French Agency for Biodiversity had itself taken over in 2016 all the rights and obligations of the Agency for Marine Protected Areas (2006-2016).