French Polynesia has its own competence in environmental matters. As such, it has specific legislation for the protection and management of natural areas, integrated into the environmental code, a Ministry of the Environment and a department, the Directorate of the Environment. The mission of this department is to ensure "the monitoring and protection of physical environments", "the conservation and development of protected natural areas", "the identification, monitoring and protection of fauna and flora".
Article LP. 2111-2 of the French Polynesian Environmental Code distinguishes six categories of natural areas, classified according to their main management objective and inspired by the IUCN typology of protected areas.
In addition, the Environmental Code of French Polynesia provides for specific provisions relating to the protection, conservation and management of certain natural areas in French Polynesia, such as the marine environment, the Rahui (land and/or marine areas where unwritten rules dictated by a resource management imperative are traditionally applied), or the biosphere reserves.
Country Law #2017-25 dated 05/10/2017 - Pages 6381 to 6430
Country Law #2017-25 dated 05/10/2017 - Pages 6431 to 6475