It protects the broad-leaved trees typical of the southeastern Paris Basin plateau.

[1] The idea for the park was put forth in 2009, with numerous working groups and studies involved in over a decade in identifying strengths and weaknesses for what it could accomplish, as well as otherwise developing and defining its boundaries so that it would be a coherent, sensible whole.

The park was formally established on 7 November 2019, by publication of an official decree signed by Prime Minister Édouard Philippe in the Journal Officiel de la République Française.

Like a number of overseas areas, French Guiana is defined to be a department and region.

Forêts National Park is 560 square kilometres (220 sq mi) in area; it spans the border between the departments of Haute-Marne in Grand Est and Côte-d'Or in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, covering 59 communes partly or totally.