Forest fires: France Bois Forêt calls for strengthened prevention and adaptation of forest areas

As several French regions are severely affected by wildfires, France Bois Forêt commends the mobilization of emergency services, security forces, government agencies, local elected officials, and professionals working on the ground. The national trade association also expresses its support for the affected communities, forest owners, and companies involved.

Beyond the immediate emergency, the organization believes that the increasing frequency and intensity of fires necessitate a rethinking of long-term prevention, management, and forest restoration. This adaptation must take into account climate change, as well as the environmental, economic, and social functions provided by forests.

Consequences for the entire forestry and timber sector

Fires destroy forest stands and habitats essential to biodiversity. They also affect an entire economic chain made up of forest owners, forestry companies, operators, cooperatives, transporters, nurseries, sawmills and wood processing industries.

According to France Bois Forêt, the reconstruction of the damaged forest areas therefore goes beyond the sole issue of forestry. It also concerns maintaining jobs, supplying companies in the sector, and ensuring the future availability of wood intended primarily for construction and industry.

Strengthen firebreaks and brush clearing obligations

Following the fires in Gironde, Emmanuel Macron called for "replanting and rebuilding a different kind of forest," adapted to the structural conditions of climate change. For France Bois Forêt, this evolution must preserve the environmental, economic, and societal functions of forests.

The industry association is primarily calling for strengthened forest fire protection measures. It recommends creating more extensive firebreaks and improving their maintenance to slow the spread of flames and facilitate the intervention of emergency services.

France Bois Forêt also calls for increased brush clearing operations in forested areas and for better enforcement of legal brush clearing obligations (OLD) around homes. The organization advocates for simplified regulations to accelerate their implementation.

Land-use planning must also contribute to risk prevention. The industry association therefore recommends avoiding new construction within or in the immediate vicinity of forests and generalizing forest fire protection plans to improve the defensibility of forest areas.

Finally, raising public awareness remains a key focus. According to the national prevention campaign launched by the government for the summer of 2026, 9 out of 10 forest and vegetation fires are caused by humans.

Adapting forestry to the specific characteristics of each territory

Rebuilding a damaged forest is not simply a matter of planting new trees. It requires relying on scientific knowledge, analyzing soil characteristics, and adapting forestry practices to the expected climatic conditions in each area.

The stands must be assessed, in particular, with regard to their capacity to withstand droughts, pests, and diseases, while preserving ecological balance. Therefore, there is no single solution applicable to all French forest areas.

This adaptation aligns with the guidelines of the draft third National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC 3), which aims in particular to restore the capacity of French forests to sustainably capture carbon in order to contribute to carbon neutrality by 2050.

A reconstruction that must be prepared over several decades

Before any planting, the restoration of a burned forest begins with securing the plots, assessing the damage, conducting health assessments, and analyzing the soil. It is then necessary to determine the most suitable regeneration methods and identify any trees that can still be used as timber or industrial wood.

France Bois Forêt believes this approach requires sustainable funding for stand renewal, seed and seedling production, research, innovation, and risk prevention. The industry association also calls for continued modernization of forestry companies and wood processing facilities.

These investments should help preserve the role of forests as carbon sinks, maintain the supplies needed for construction and industry, and strengthen jobs in the forestry and wood sector throughout the territory.

“The fires our country is experiencing are a shock to the entire forestry sector. Our first thoughts naturally go to the women and men affected by these events. We commend the professionalism, responsiveness, and solidarity of our companies and their employees, who are standing alongside the tirelessly mobilized emergency services. I want to express our gratitude to all of them for their total commitment, as well as to all the services involved. This ordeal also reminds us of our collective responsibility: to not only restore but also to create forests capable of withstanding tomorrow's climatic conditions across our entire territory. A forest cannot be rebuilt in a single season. It is built over decades, thanks to sustainable management, scientific knowledge, and the collective commitment of generations of foresters. France Bois Forêt will be fully mobilized to support this ambition,” declared Anne Duisabeau, President of France Bois Forêt.

Image illustrating the article via Depositphotos.com.