FORÊT DE CAMPET

This is the department's only state-owned forest. The forest has diversified over the centuries, as events have dictated. Indeed, history, fires and natural disasters have repeatedly altered the appearance of this massif. Gone are the days when resin-workers exploited the gems. Pine and red oak gradually replaced cork oak, diversifying the tree species. Today, the Campet forest offers a variety of natural spaces and an ever-increasing biodiversity. Numerous hiking trails criss-cross this biotope.

The Campet forest is part of the regional network of experimental forests set up by the Office National des Forêts (ONF) with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region as part of the NeoTerra project. As such, it is a "mixed forest" planted in 2022 with maritime pine, American red oak, warty birch, umbrella pine and oak. Spread over 5 ha, 8,400 trees have been planted.

The blends are based around Maritime Pine to optimize its resistance and resilience to various disturbances (diseases or climatic events) and to determine whether synergies and complementarities can be achieved between species. The majority production species in south-western France, Pinus pinaster is adapted to the current climatic context, but regeneration difficulties are beginning to pose a problem, and we need to find the best way of ensuring its preservation. Cork would be a good way of reviving a local industry.