The State and the Greater Paris Metropolis are committed to preserving the Metropolis' forests

This partnership, renewed for the period 2025-2027, aims to give the ONF (public institution of the State) the means to strengthen the management and protection of these essential natural spaces. A budget of 1,8 million over 3 years is allocated to this initiative, financed to the tune of €300.000 per year for the Metropolis and €300.000 per year for the State (€200.000 per year by the ONF and €100.000 per year by the regional prefecture).

This framework agreement is in line with the previous ones. Since 2019, this structuring partnership has made it possible to work to strengthen knowledge of the forest environments of the Paris region, to develop and promote these spaces and to raise awareness among citizens about forest issues. In this context, more than 20 investment projects have been carried out for €4 million, including €3 million provided by the signatories of the agreements.

Given the attachment of the people of the Paris region to the leisure space that forests constitute on the one hand and the climatic and health issues that they must face on the other, this new agreement places emphasis on the development of mediation and communication actions to better raise awareness of the metropolitan forest heritage and to raise awareness among the population of the issues of sustainable forest management.

The Metropolitan Council of February 14, 2025 unanimously adopted an annual program of actions included in the agreement and including in particular:

• The beautification and protection of the Trivaux ponds and the renovation of the cobblestone car park in the Meudon forest;
• The restoration of wooden furniture located in the forest of Notre-Dame and La Grange;
• The organization of events to raise awareness among the general public, and particularly among young people, about the preservation of the forest;
• The renewal of equestrian brigades in the Meudon forest;
• The maintenance of metropolitan state forests to improve their quality of reception.

For Patrick OLLIER, President of the Greater Paris Metropolis: "The Metropolis is a dense continuous area of ​​814 km² but it is fortunate to have 6.300 hectares of forest, or nearly 8% of its territory, which it has been working to preserve alongside the State and the National Forestry Office since 2019. I am delighted with the renewal of this partnership in favor of our forest areas, which are essential to the living environment of metropolitan residents. The metropolitan SCOT, adopted in July 2023 by 96,3% of the votes, concretizes the action of the Metropolis to preserve its forests by making the share of open land at a level of 30% at the plot level mandatory for all construction or development projects."

For Valérie METRICH-HECQUET, Director General of the National Forestry Office (ONF): "The high frequency of use of the Ile-de-France forests and the need to reconcile different uses requires going beyond what is usually practiced in public forests by the ONF. The partnership with the Métropole du Grand Paris and the Prefecture of the Île-de-France region makes it possible to achieve this qualitative leap in welcoming the public, preserving biodiversity and raising awareness of forest issues in society. The ONF is very pleased to extend this partnership for those who establish themselves in trust and with the desire to build in a concrete way for the benefit of forest users."

For Marc GUILLAUME, prefect of the Île-de-France region, prefect of Paris: "Faced with the challenge of climate change, the State and local authorities must guarantee the resilience of our forests and develop education among the people of the Paris region regarding the management choices made. Support for mediation and user awareness is a major focus of the new agreement, which is something to be welcomed. The State is proud to renew its partnership with the MGP to perpetuate the multifunctional management of the Paris region's forests."