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Actions to maintain and restore the Luberon Forest’s biodiversity: focus on old-growth and ancient
forests network
Provence – Alpes – Côte d’Azur, France
under the auspices of Unesco
• Territory
• Natural heritage
• How we preserve forest biodiversity
• Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
• French Mediterranean Natura 2000 “Habitat trees” and “Old-growth patches”
French regional parks
• Luberon Regional Nature Park (1977)
• Provence
• 77 municipalities
• National Geological Nature Reserve (1987)
• Biosphere Reserve (1997)
• Luberon European & Global Geopark (2004)
Park territory
Petit Luberon Grand Luberon
Luberon oriental
Monts de Vaucluse
Apt
Cavaillon
Pertuis
Manosque
Forcalquier
Apt
Cavaillon
Pertuis
Manosque
Forcalquier
• Luberon Regional Nature Park (study area)
• Area : 1953.88 km2
• More than 170,000 inhabitants
9 Natura 2000 sites - 470 km2
Grand Luberon
Petit Luberon
Ochres
• 1/3 French flora (1800 higher plant species)
• 45% of French vertebrates (270 vertebrate species)
Natural heritage
• 660 spider species
• 587 insect taxa of patrimonial significance
• …
Natural heritage
How we preserve forest biodiversity
Dialogue during the elaboration of the forest’s management plans and before tree felling:
• ecological diagnosis, • period of tranquility for bird nesting in sensitive areas, • technical advice.
Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY HOW WE SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE
How we preserve forest biodiversity
Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING Ecological studies on forests and biodiversity reservoirs
Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs Forest description
72 specific species
Teucrium polium, et Phillyrea angustifolia specific of recent forests,
Phillyrea latifolia et Mercurialis perennis, specific of ancient forests
AgroparisTech / INRA study, 2013 : Is there a flora specific of the ancient mediterranean forests of the Luberon Park?
Characteristics of biodiversity reservoirs in our Mediterranean forests
IRSTEA Thesis, 2015-2017 : Forest networks and flora biodiversity Influence of connectivity and history/heritage
GCP survey 2014: Bats activity in quercus pubescens forests What are the influences of forests maturity and naturalness ?
27 species and groups
INP Purpan, 2015: Evaluation of entomological biodiversity in 4 biodiversity reservoirs
Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING
Ecological studies Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs Forest description
Lachat & Bütler 2007
Mountain range Forest range Plot range
Old-growth forest network
Forest reserve /
Free evolving forests
Old-growth patch / Senescence islet
Habitat tree
From 10 ha to + 100 ha from 1 to 10 ha Naturalness of the
forest matrix
Ecological role
Biodiversity reservoirs
« Dispersal corridor »
Old-growth forest network: definitions
Habitat tree
Old-growth patch (Senescence islet)
Forest reserve (Free evolving forests)
Dispersal corridor
Salvaudon 2013
Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs
Photos taken from planes Natura 2000 documents Forest management plans Other specific documents & Experts knowledge: (local foresters, naturalists…)
Estimating the interest for conservation of old-growth forest network in the field :
- Evaluating degree of naturalness with
WWF method
WWF, 2013. Forêts anciennes à haute valeur de conservation. Les outils d'évaluation
WWF Method At forest stand (1 to 10 ha) • Wildness (perceived naturalness)
•Nature description & Diversity
• Human footprint
Degree of naturalness
« La Tuilière » (Buoux, 84)
Degree of naturalness example
Diversity Naturalness
The WWF method allows to distinguish between very different types of forests
Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING
Ecological studies on specific forest biodiversity spots Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs Characterization of the Luberon forest matrix:
• Ancient forest mapping • Naturalness
Ancient forest mapping
• Forest coverage on 1860-1870 maps
• Recent land use studies
• Recent French national maps of forests
The forest ancientness has an influence on the biodiversity (regardless of the management type) Dupouey et al., 2002
• Specific diversity of indigenous species
• Natural habitats of high interest
• Forest structure
• Probability of presence of microhabitats
• Dynamics of the forest evolution
• Forest’s ancientness
→ Assessment for ecological continuity
Naturalness
Forest types classified by the National forest institute (IFN, 2012)
6 criteria inspired by the WWF « naturalness rapid assessement»
Forest types classified according to naturalness degree
Criteria Description Grade
Species diversity
(number of indigenous species)
0 0
1 1
[ 2 – 4 ] 2
5 or 6 3
> Or = to 7 4
Forest habitat of high interest
Absence 0
Presence 1
Stand structure
Matorral 0
Coppice 1
High forest mixed with coppice
or high forest with low density
2
High forest 3
Criteria Description Grade
Probability of presence of
microhabitats
Low 1
Average 2
High 3
Succession stages and
phases
(according to vegetation
stages)
Pionnier 1
Transition stage 1 2
Transition stage 2 3
Complete 4
Continuity of forest cover
Recent forest 0
Around1860 1
Proven ancient forest 2
Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY How to link forests of high biodiversity ? French Mediterranean Natura 2000 “Habitat trees” and “Old-growth patches” contract HOW WE SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE
Mountain range Forest range Plot range
Old-growth forest network
Forest reserve /
Free evolving forests
From 10 ha to + 100 ha
Old-growth patch / Senescence islet
From 1 to 10 ha
Habitat tree
Naturalness of the forest matrix
Ecological role Biodiversity reservoirs
« Dispersal corridors »
Existing tools for conservation and
management
-Strictly protected biological reserves - Forest sections classified « without silviculture » in the management plans - « Exceptional areas » as defined by the Luberon’s park charter - Protection of the central area of the Biosphere Reserve - Other protected lands
- Forest sections classified as -« aging ilots » ? / « senescence ilots » = old-growth patches in the management plans - Natura 2000 « old-growth patches » contracts - Payments for environmental services ?
- Recommendations included in management plans (not required) - Natura 2000 « habitat trees » contracts
- Natura 2000 charter
How it is implemented in today’s forestry
Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING HOW DO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY How to link forests of high biodiversity ? French Mediterranean Natura 2000 “Habitat trees” and “Old-growth patches” contract HOW WE SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE
Species and habitats of European interest: Chiropters: Barbastella1, Myotis bechsteinii2
Insects: Osmoderma4, Cerambyx cerdo5, Lucanus cervus6, Rosalia alpina7
Habitats: Beech and Oak Forests
1 2 3
4 5 6 7
The Natura 2000 contract’s
Network: A. Habitat trees for species of European interest B. Old-growth patches
Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » and « old-
growth patches » contract
A. Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » contract for species of European interest
Eligibility requirements: • Wood species • Diameter • Senescence evidence* • Presence of remarkable animal species
*
B. Natura 2000 « Old-growth patches » contract
Minimum : 10 trees/ha Minimum area : 0.5 ha
Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » and « Old-growth patches » contract duration: 30 years
Maximum compensation: A. 2 000 €/ha for trees + B. 2 000 €/ha for patches = 1 ha with 10 eligible trees receives 4000 € in compensation
Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network
HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY HOW WE SHARE KNOWLEDGE Geo-database Awareness, education
On this
Awareness, education
Copyrights
PNRL, Max Gallardo, GCP, Emmanuel Cosson, Pierre Frappa, Aline Salvaudon, Sophie Bourlon, David Tatin, Arnoul Hamel, Mathieu Berson
Many thanks for your attention
Field trip
8:30 Departure by bus from the hotel parking 8:45 : Goult panoramic view, National forest office presentation of the forest of Luberon 9:30 : Goult, La Grande Bastide, private property in Ochra N2000 site – Practice of the Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » contract. 12:30 : Picnic 15:30 : Presentation of Mount Ventoux forest. Presentation and practice of the WWF assessment tool. 19:00 Back to the hotel
under the auspices of Unesco
