French Southern Territories afs energy

What are the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF)?

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) are at the heart of these ambitions. Made up of five districts – the Crozet archipelago, the Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam, the Éparses Islands and Adélie Land – these territories are nevertheless one of the ultra-marine collectivities that are least well known to the general public.

Why are the French Southern & Antarctic Lands subject to an original form of governance?

These characteristics explain why these territories are subject to an original form of governance. The French Southern and Antarctic Lands include uninhabited territories in the Indian and Southern Oceans. Image: TAAF

What is the French Southern Territories nature reserve?

In 2006, the French Southern Territories Nature Reserve was created around the Crozet archipelago and the Kerguelen, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam islands. This reserve, which by 2022 will cover an area of 1.6 million km2, is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.

Does France have territorial sovereignty over the Éparses Islands?

Although France’s claim to the three austral lands (Kerguelen, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam and Crozet) is no longer contested, it is facing two major challenges to its claim to territorial sovereignty over the Éparses islands.

How is Terre Adélie different from other taafs?

Here too, the case of Terre Adélie is different from that of the other TAAFs. Its specific environment is protected by a special legal framework, as it is subject to the regulations of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, in particular the Madrid Protocol and its six annexes.