Importance des dégâts de cervidés en forêt. Principaux acquis et recommandations suite à la mise en place d'un observatoire national

Abstract

In the winter 1999/2000, a survey of deer (Capreolus capreolus. Cervus elaphus) damage to commercial forestry was carried out in 5 French départements. Browsing damage by deer on a sample (n = 638) of vulnerable stands (planted and naturally regenerated) and barking damage on another sample (n = 308) were recorded using standard field measurement techniques. Of the 1,200,000 ha of forest surveyed, approximately 40,000 ha were susceptible to damage of these types, 5,000 ha of which were indeed jeopardised. The impact of these ungulates depends on their population size as well as species composition and origin of the stands. Some management recommendations are proposed to alleviate damage by deer.