Planting trees used to warmer climates to fight against drought and rising temperatures is the experiment led by the National Forestry Office (ONF) with its islands of the future. This Thursday, respectively more than 1,500 downy oaks and holm oaks were planted in two two-hectare plots of the Chœurs-Bommiers forest.
Trees in poor health due to global warming
They replace other trees in poor health, mainly because of global warming, such as pedunculate or sessile oaks. Species that are no longer adapted to the temperatures that can affect the Indre and Berry in summer. “These species can no longer find the humidity and water they need, regrets Jean-Paul Desnoyer, forestry technician. So we try to adapt and find species that will better withstand strong heat “.
– Corentin Debuire
Once some trees in poor health were felled, the ground was prepared to receive the young plants, raised for a year in a nursery in Orne. Three employees of the Perrin Sylviculture company then put them in the ground. Then comes the time to put in place protective measures to prevent them from being eaten by does, deer or other deer.
– Corentin Debuire
The islets of the future are a test aiming to learn whether these rather Mediterranean trees can develop in the soil of Berry. If they are successful in growing, the assumption is that they should be armed to withstand rising temperatures, but the answer will not be known for several decades as oaks are slow growing trees. Some of those who were decimated were more than 150 years old.
A project that will bear fruit in several decades
In 2022, other species of trees will be planted in the massif but also in the forest of Châteauroux, such as sequoias, hazelnuts from Turkey or even cedars. Other islands of the future are starting to be created all over France by the ONF, notably in the forest of Blet (Cher). The financing of the project is integrated into the recovery plan.