Planting 1 billion trees could be a bad idea, some experts say. In the aftermath of the mega-fires that ravaged the Landes this summer, President Macron announced a recovery plan for French forests: 1 billion trees must be planted by 2030 on the territory, i.e. 10% of our forests. An impressive figure which, first, demonstrates a fierce desire to protect and revive our forests, and to green the territory. But which, in the opinion of experts, would not be such a good idea, for at least three reasons.
Fields of trees are more vulnerable to fires
The summer fires in the Landes de Gascogne have proven it: the fields of trees, often conifers, ignite like matches. Natural forests resist better than monocultures, especially maritime pines. In addition to requiring fertilizers, they are more vulnerable to pathogens and parasites and also more fragile in the event of storms.
Young forests are less ecologically efficient
According to a study published in the journal Science in 2022, relayed by Reporterre“carbon storage, water supply, and especially soil erosion control and biodiversity benefits are all better provided by old-growth forests than with simpler, younger plantations.“Maintaining forest cover, mixing species and conditioning public aid in favor of forestry closer to nature: this is the only viable strategy, argued 600 scientists, associations and wood professionals in a forum at the JDDat the beginning of the year.
The ONF does not have enough resources to plant 1 billion trees
To plant 1 billion trees in the next eight years, it would still be necessary to have sufficient seeds and plants. Because the specialists all agree in saying it: the nurseries will not be able to supply such a large quantity… Even if we find hundreds of millions of plants, we still need to have people to put them in the ground and monitor them. . However, explain the trade unionists of the ONF, in twenty years, the organization has lost 32% of its employees, with an acceleration in the last five years…