Analyse du rôle de protection des forêts domaniales de montagne

Abstract

A brief account of the results of a report by the Office National des Forets, which evaluated protection forests in mountainous regions of France. The main risks in these areas are from gully erosion (65% of total area at risk), avalanches (14%) and landslides (10.5%) or rockfalls (10.5%). Forests were classified into one of 4 categories: production; production and protection (the latter role generally limits the degree of exploitation); protection (silvicultural treatments are aimed at maintaining the protective function, and no economic return is envisaged); and other. Data are given for the distribution and extent of these types in France, of tree species, and of natural and artificial regeneration.