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🇧🇪 Belgium /Disasters & Emergencies

Historical Forest Management Turns Bordeaux Region Vulnerable to Wildfires

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Bordeaux region's vulnerability to wildfires stems from a historical shift from natural heathlands and marshes to vast pine plantations.
  • Planted in the 19th century for timber production, these monoculture forests have become highly susceptible to fire.
  • Factors like rural depopulation and fragmented private ownership complicate forest management and fire prevention efforts.

The extensive pine forests in the Bordeaux region, currently battling severe wildfires, were not the area's original landscape. Two centuries ago, the area known as Landes de Gascogne, roughly the size of Flanders, was primarily characterized by heathlands, marshes, and fens.

"The natural area of Landes de Gascogne... was once much wetter and consisted mainly of heath, marshes, and fens," explained Kris Verheyen, a professor of forest ecology and management at Ghent University. "In the course of the 19th century, with the decline of traditional agriculture, the French government wanted to make that area more productive."

Under Napoleon III, the marshlands were drained, and maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) was extensively planted. This species was chosen for its rapid growth, ease of processing, and suitability for the timber and paper industries. The abundance of resin also made it valuable. Within decades, this transformation created Western Europe's largest planted production forest, but also an environment extremely vulnerable to fires.

The natural area of Landes de Gascogne, a huge area the size of Flanders, was once much wetter and consisted mainly of heath, marshes, and fens. In the course of the 19th century, with the decline of traditional agriculture, the French government wanted to make that area more productive.

— Kris VerheyenProfessor of forest ecology and management at Ghent University, explaining the historical landscape of the Bordeaux region.

Verheyen noted that while the risk of fire was recognized even then, climate change was not a factor. Today, these forests have grown denser, accumulating more flammable material. Compounding the issue is the fragmented private ownership of these forests, involving thousands of owners. This makes consistent management and adherence to regulations, such as clearing underbrush and maintaining firebreaks, challenging.

"Not everyone adheres to those rules equally well," Verheyen stated. "People also need more support to carry out that management." He advocates for a gradual shift towards more mixed forests, moving away from monocultures. Furthermore, rural depopulation in southern France and Spain means that former agricultural lands are increasingly being left unmanaged, allowing vegetation to grow and adding to the overall fuel load, potentially leading to larger fires.

Not everyone adheres to those rules equally well. People also need more support to carry out that management.

— Kris VerheyenProfessor Verheyen discusses the challenges of managing private forest lands.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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