Adapting forests to climate change in the Grand Est region (France)

Like our forests in Belgium, the forests of the Grand Est are ecosystems in constant evolution. They have undergone major changes during the last ice ages. They have also been shaped by human activity. The major difference between these past climatic variations and current climate change is the speed of the process, which is linked to human activities. The various tree species will probably not have time to migrate or adapt to these changes while still retaining their potential for timber production. According to the latest climate forecasts, some species may even be threatened locally, within the lifetime of a single tree.

In this context, the project to test new species makes perfect sense. Alongside the development of natural regeneration and the adaptation of management practices (dynamic silviculture, species mixing, soil conservation), the assisted migration of species and provenances is one of the avenues to be explored to enable tomorrow's managers and owners to choose from among the renewal options best suited to different forestry contexts.
Like our Arboretums project, the "Îlots d'Avenir" project is part of an approach that involves diversifying the choice of tree species as much as possible in this uncertain context. The primary objective is to test new species that are more resilient to climate change. This project is led by the Office National des Forêts (ONF). The partners are the CNPF, the association of forest communities and the SRFB as a methodological partner.

Find out more about this project in the ONF newsletter.