Two types of stands will benefit from this cutting: a cedar forest and a pine forest. The operation will last a few months.
Logging will begin at the end of November in the Bès State Forest managed by the Office National des Forêts, at a place called “Le Saumon” along the access road to the Andran branch in the town of Digne- The baths. Two types of stands will benefit from this cutting: a cedar forest and a pine forest. The operation will last a few months.
The cedar forest is a national heritage because the trees are classified as a category tested for the collection of seeds. Only three stands in France benefit from such a classification. Cedar is a species highly sought after by foresters for reforestation projects in a context of climate change. Tens of thousands of seeds are harvested each year to give young trees that will be planted throughout France.
The challenge of this second cut in this stand is to initiate its irregularity while conserving the most seed-producing trees. Thus the largest trees located at the edge of the plot which bear many cones are preserved. In addition, the less beautiful trees will be cut down to make room for others. This cut will bring diffused light to the many young seedlings that have established themselves naturally.
The pine forest is the result of reforestation in the 1950s and has never been cut down. It is a question here of removing the less welcoming trees in favor of more beautiful ones which will thus be able to develop better. The cut trees are therefore those with a defect (curves, forks, large branches, etc.) for their future use and trees of lesser vigor which hinder the most dynamic trees.
This cut will mainly be carried out with a harvester and a forwarder. The use of these machines allows rapid operation and offers good working conditions to the operators. These heavy machines can compact the forest floor. To limit this impact, operating partitions are created every 18m. The machines must remain on these partitions throughout the work. These paths are permanent and will therefore be reused during future cuts and for all mechanized work in these plots.
Branches will be left in place. In the cedar area they will be gathered on the partitions so as not to interfere with the young seedlings. In the pine forest where seedlings are absent, they will be left in the stand so that the mineral and organic elements return to the soil.
On the occasion of this cut, more than 3000 m3 of wood will be mobilized mainly for the benefit of the regional wood sector which will convert them into industrial wood or sawn timber. The timber was purchased standing and will be exploited by the Société Forestière de l’Ubaye under the supervision of the National Forestry Office.
“For their safety, we invite all site users (hikers, mountain bikers, paragliders, mushroom pickers, etc.) to respect the temporary access restrictions to the site, not to approach construction machinery and not to climb on the piles. Of wood”.