Mesures Sylvicoles Propres a Reduire les Risques D’Incendie dans la Zone Temperee

Summary

There are many factors which cause fires. Some are inevitable while other can be modified.

The public must be well informed, and there must be regulations governing forestry exploitation and access to the forest by the public, as well as infrastructure for its protection.

However, there are also silvicultural measures than can influence the inflammability and even the combustibility of a stand.

The vulnerability of a plantation to fire depends on its size, the structure of the stands, the type of species it contains, their age and their density.

There are two basic options: diversification of species when replanting, or intensive silviculture.

Four areas in which silvicultural measures have been undertaken are discussed: the forests of Lower Saxony, as noted in the report by Mr. OTTO of the Federal Republic of Germany; and in France, the forests of the Landes; the forest of Rouvray near Rouen; and the forest of Fontainebleau near Paris.

Silvicultural methods of protection against fire require long-term efforts, and have only been used in a few regions. Examples cited represent isolated cases.

Protection against forest fires should be systematically considered in all plans for forest management.