Just take a few steps in the Salbert forest, near Belfort, to see the consequences of high temperatures on biodiversity. Sylvie Vogel, horticulture teacher at the Valdoie agricultural college, points to plants. “Look: their leaves are falling. It looks like they are crying“. Because of lack of rain, the functioning of the plant slows down. “It’s like us humans: with the heat, it’s hard to work so we try to manage to hurt our body a little less.“, compares the one who has lived at the foot of the forest for more than 30 years.
“Trees are forced to select the leaves that are in the best shape to reserve the little water they have”
Blackberries, she was always used to seeing them. But today, only a few are growing in the bushes: “there are very few and they are very small. They should be 1.5 times bigger.” She is no longer surprised to see dead leaves on the ground in August. “Trees are forced to select those that are in better shape to reserve the little water they have.“. 500m further on the sports course, the upper part of the forest takes shape, and here, “it’s even drier“. On the trunks, the mosses are particularly dry.
The usual streams gave way to stones and boulders. It points to a wooden pontoon, which normally crosses a small stream. “There hasn’t been a drop of water since May“says Sylvie Vogel. According to her, this situation only occurred during the 2003 heat wave.”It raises a lot of questions about the future of the forest“, worries the horticulturist.
Diversify and change cultures
To limit the consequences of future droughts, solutions are still possible: respect the planting periods, “in autumn“, but above all”diversify the species to prevent the whole forest from dying, and try to find plants that are less sensitive to high temperatures“Since she has been living in the region, Sylvie Vogel has already seen the National Forestry Office plant new species. Some fir trees in the Vosges, for example, have given way to pines, usually planted in the south of France.
– Emma Steven
But for the specialist, what matters most is educate the younger generation about environmental protection : “Young people must realize that plants are life“. The specialist hopes above all that the rain come back quickly and especially that it lasts for several days. But the weather forecast shows no signs of rain.