Follow-up of plantations carried out thanks to RED by SFR and its customers in the Meudon national forest

Thanks to support from RED by SFR and its customers, the planting project in Meudon state forest, which began in 2022, has given a new lease of life to this threatened ecosystem. Many areas of the forest had been seriously affected by chestnut ink disease, which weakens and kills chestnut trees. Since the latter account for around 30% of the forest, the damage is considerable, threatening the ecological balance of the area.

In response, the French Forestry Office (Office national des forêts, ONF) has put in place a reforestation strategy that involves more resilient species. This project, supported exclusively by RED by SFR and its clients, involved replacing diseased or dead chestnut trees with sessile oak, hornbeam, and Atlas cedar. Over time, this choice of species will enhance biodiversity and create a forest stand that is more resistant to disease and the vagaries of weather.

Sessile oaks, in particular, are robust trees that can adapt to different types of soil and are more resistant to drought conditions. Combined with other species such as hornbeam and cedar, they form a new forest mosaic that will support the biological diversity of Meudon forest while reducing its vulnerability to health threats.

Thanks to these planting initiatives, more than 4,000 seedlings have been planted on several plots of land. The biodiversity of the forest is being enriched and a positive dynamic is in place to ensure the future of this natural area. In May 2024, the ONF team visited the plots to analyse the survival rate of the trees planted during the winter of 2022/2023. It was excellent, over 95%. We are therefore well ahead of the target of planting 3,344 lasting trees by the project end!

This reforestation project is a real-life example of how collaboration between public and private stakeholders can help to preserve the forests of France.

Catch up soon for more news about the planting in Meudon!