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AQUITAINE
- La
forêt privée de Dordogne : héritage d'anciens
usages agricoles.
- Les
peupleraies de la vallée de la Garonne.
- La
forêt de pin maritime d'Aquitaine : une forêt cultivée.

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The French department of Dordogne is covered
by 400 000 ha of fragmented forest. In almost one century
the forest has doubled in surface area, mainly as a consequence
of rural depopulation. Ancient rural land uses left their
mark in the present wooded landscape.
Approximatively 99 % of the forest area belongs to private
landowners. The average size of property is less than 4
ha. The main species in the Dordogne forest are chestnut,
maritime pine and oaks.
Silvicultural systems include coppice of chestnut that can
be mixed with some pine or oaks standards. The coppice felling
cycle for chestnut is about 30 years. Annual harvest is
about 328 000 m³ roundwood. It is mainly used for furniture,
panels, paper-mill, post, and firewood.
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French poplar plantations cover more than
238 000 hectares. The Aquitaine poplar area represents 12%
of the total area of poplars in France, and are found in
two departments : Lot et Garonne and Gironde. Poplar
plantation are mostly privately owned. They represent 3%
of the total area of Aquitaine forested area and produce
about 108 000 m2 per annum. This represents almost
30% of total hardwood production of the region. Most poplar
wood is used in packaging because of the close proximity
of strong market-gardening activity. Forestry practises
are characterized by the use of three main clones I-214,
I-45/51 and Dorskamp. On good lands, the final cut can be
done in the 15th year of the rotation. Now, poplar producers
are seeking a greater diversity in the cultivars and age
classes to reduce phytosanitary risks. They also have to
take care of environment, mainly in wetlands.
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Maritime Pine forest is mostly present in
the " Landes de Gascogne " and today covers nearly
860 000 ha.
Established in the middle of the XIXth century in order
to make this vast marshy area more habitable, this forest
is now dedicated to the production of wood for construction
and pulp. The pine forest is managed in a sustainable way,
mostly by private forest-owners using modern silvicultural
methods.
The annual harvest is about 8 100 000 m3 . This represents
86% of the total maritime pine harvest in Aquitaine and
almost 24% of France total harvest. Maritime pine logs provide
prime material for an important industry based on saw milling
and pulp milling. Over the past 50 years several methods
of monitoring have been developed to ensure that the risks
of insect, fire and climate damage are minimal.
The forest of the "Landes de Gascogne" were extensively
damaged during the severe storms of December of 1999. Apart
from the considerable damage (about 28 millions cubic meters
for maritime pine), significant changes were introduced
into markets, available wood resource, etc. Although the
main objective of this forest is wood production it also
provides benefits such as soil and water protection or leisure
activities.
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