Coupes fortes et coupes rases dans les forêts françaises

Abstract

Clear cutting is the second most widespread cause for criticism of foresters action by public opinion. Other major harvests also contribute to the alteration of landscapes and come fourth as grounds for criticism. Every year, the number of these various fellings averages 48,900, involving some 104,300 ha, i.e., 0.8% of forested areas in France, with an average unit surface area of approximately 2.1 ha. Because the land use system differs between private and public forests, the mean unit surface area for state forests is 3.7 ha, 3.3 ha for other forest that come under the forestry regime and 1.9 ha in private forests. The highest rates of major harvesting occur in regions where sylviculture of the maritime pine is predominant, ones where there is a long-standing tradition of public forestry practices and those which have been largely subsidized by the FFN. An overview of the literature on the environmental impact of clear cutting shows that the effects are most often relatively minor and short-lived, but that there nevertheless many instances where the techniques implemented do have significant, long-term effects. The solution to these problems is not be found in further regulatory activity but rather in building awareness and providing better information to forest managers.