The diversity in the natural environment here encourages the harmonious cohabitation of different species of animals and plants. The Franche-Comté respects this biodiversity and makes efforts to preserve it.

Flowers growing everywhere

On the Comtois plains orchids, narcissi and ombelliferous plants can be found growing abundantly. Higher up, in the mountains, grow gentians, lilies, crocuses, soldanels and globeflowers.  Well beneath these in the peat-bogs formed by aquatic mosses, grow water irises and the sundew, an insectivorous plant. The Franche-Comté landscapes are thus sprinkled with the colours peculiar to them and become so many corners of paradise for the botanist.

The forest and its myriad species

The animals are safe here hidden beneath the chestnut, oak and fir-trees and many different populations have taken up residence, from the smallest creatures as, for example the red ant, the hazel grouse or the marten to the biggest animals such as the roe-deer, boar or stag. Let us also mention 2 species which have newly reappeared and are expanding in number: first, the extremely rare and protected species – the capercaillie and, secondly, the boreal lynx, both  now living in the wild forests of the Jura and the Vosges.

Water-life

The water-courses are a natural element for a number of living creatures: snipe, curlews and buzzards have taken up a residence in the bogs, trout, pike and lake herring people the rivers and lakes, while bats perform their ballet of mini-vampires in the underground caves of the Franche-Comté.