The need to strengthen public forest services for forests at risk

In view of the dramatic forest fires in progress, the two associations of elected co-signatories recall the importance of the role of forests, which are among the most important rural amenities. They are both areas of biodiversity and leisure, which contribute to the economic sovereignty of the country and to the solutions to fight against climate change. Trees are carbon pumps that reduce CO2 emissions by storing carbon in the soil, in roots and in finished wood products and protecting water resources.

Forests will only be able to fully play this role if they are protected. Public action must take greater account of the issues related to these spaces. To protect them, it is essential to ensure sustainable and multifunctional forest management. The FNCOFOR and the AMRF have thus always asked that the issue of public service be discussed with the State by deploying the necessary means, with a sufficient number of professionals in the field.

Events today show the need for strong public forest services. However, these are increasingly in tension and it is unthinkable in these circumstances to further reduce the staff of the National Forestry Office (ONF) as provided for in the State-ONF objectives and performance contract. Nearly 500 positions at the ONF should be cut in the coming years.

Mayors are directly involved. They have a key role in these ecosystems, both guarantors of the general interest, protectors of biodiversity and at the interface of all public policies. They must be able to be accompanied by competent field agents in order to develop their territory, be able to carry out their mission of safety and risk prevention while being actors in the economic development of the forest-wood sector and the energy transition.

In France, the forest is placed under the protection of the Nation. The National Federation of Forest Municipalities and the Association of Rural Mayors of France are therefore asking the State to assume its responsibilities and assume its role of guarantor of the preservation of our forests with a long-term investment and to grant the human resources needed by elected officials to deal with all these challenges.