Between one quarter and one fifth of France is forested, though much of this has been recently planted for commercial timber production. Most of the natural vegetation in France – deciduous woodlands in the north, and drier scrubland and pines in the south – has been cleared to make space for farming.

Farming in France varies from place to place. Livestock farming is very important in the north-west, where the climate is cooler and wetter, and grass grows well. In the lowland areas of France, such as the Paris basin, crops such as maize, barley and wheat are grown in huge fields. Further south the warmer climate is suitable for growing fruit such as peaches, melons and cherries. Sunflowers are grown for their oil, which is also used to make margarine. In the south it is also common to see fields of purple lavender, which is used for making perfume. All over France grapes are grown on vineyards to make wine.

The wide range of climates and terrain in France means that it has a rich variety of plants and wildlife. France has a number of national parks, which have set up programmes to protect fragile species. These have been endangered due to intensive farming, the spread of towns and cities, and increasing levels of pollution. The Pyrénées National Park was created in 1967, and stretches for about 100km along the border with Spain. The park covers an area of 460 square km and contains forested areas, several lakes, rivers and brooks. Protected wildlife includes the brown bear, chamois (a goat-like, mountain animal), lynx, marmot, and endangered birds of prey such as the golden eagle and the bearded vulture.