Forest plantation

I - What is a forest plantation?

The plantation is the last step of an afforestation or reforestation.
It is done after a preparation of the soil (see Forest Ploughing).
Concerning the Landes of Gascogne forest, this work is non-mechanized, and 100% done by hand.
It consists in planting in a prepared soil regularly spaced young forest seedlings.

The maritime pine (pinus pinaster) and the loblolly Pine (pinus taeda) are the most planted varieties in the Landes forest.

The eucalyptus and the black locust or false acacia are also used on the richest heathlands found in the forest.
Poplars are often planted along rivers or brooks, where the soil is rich and moist.
Furthermore, different plantations projects have appeared since the 2009 Klaus windstorm.

Borders of deciduous trees are complementary to the forest of resinous trees grown for production. They offer an alternative to monoculture. They are useful for the animals and plants. They bring diversity. They build sanitary barriers. They help fighting against big fires. They are composed of hardy varieties: cork oak, green oak, Pyrenean oak, swamp Spanish oak, warty birch, arbutus, hazel tree…

In the agricultural environment, planting country hedges provides both protection against winds and ecological and landscape diversity. There are also projects which aim is wood production (Agroforestry). For example, it is possible to combine wood production and animal well-being in the poultry farming sector. It is also possible to combine wood production and agricultural production.

Projects for quarries rehabilitation appear regularly. The managers of such sites are now aware of the importance of integrating the quarries to the landscape. Today, a wide range of tools and plants make it possible to revegetate these zones.

Finally, the associations in charge of the waterway management work harder to restore the riverbanks and the surrounding areas. Planting projects that involve many varieties are multiplying, to compensate the damages of the climate such as floods and storms.

II - How is a forest plantation done?

First, the soil must be worked according to its type, and plants of quality must be chosen, whatever the plantation project is. (see Quality of the plants).

Focus on the plantation technique:

For the reforestation of the Aquitaine forest, the planting cane is the best tool. It is the most adapted to planting seedlings in clods. It is now quite unusual to plant with a spade, a hoe, or a pickaxe.
• watch the demonstration video of Planfor plantation technique

Choice of the plantation density:

The density of plants per hectare is determined by the quality of the soil and the surface that needs reforestation.
In the Aquitaine forest, the density generally varies from 1,200 to 1,500 plants/ha. The distance of the plants is between 1,5 to 2m, and the rows are between 4 and 4,50 m apart.
This density varies if resinous or deciduous trees are planted.

Date of plantation:

Planting seedlings in clods allows plantations from September to June, depending on the projects.

Plantation rules:

• no handling of seedling clods when it is freezing.
• no planting when it is freezing.
• Adapting the plantation hours and checking the moisture of the plants according to the weather conditions and the reforestation phase.
• covering the clods well, without stamping or pressing down.
• checking that the plant is upright.
• doing maintenance work, by hand or mechanically, during two growing cycles, to limit the return of the grass weed, to ensure the growth and the development of the young plants.
• watching for and anticipating damages done by game: possibility to install tree shelters, possibility to treat the plants beforehand in the nursery with a natural cervid repellent (TRICO FORET).

III Why a forest plantation?

The forest plantation is good for:

• Giving value to the land.
• Developing medium- and long-term incomes.
• Being exempted from property tax, from 10 to 50 years, depending on the planted variety.
• Fighting against global warming.
• Capturing CO2 and improving the quality of the air.
• Stabilising the soils (dunes – agroforestry).
• Developing biodiversity.
• Benefiting from genetical improvement through seeds selection (strength and shape).
• Following the law (a forester must reforest within 5 years after cutting).

Indeed, the forestry policy’s aim is to ‘ensure the sustainable management of the forests and of their natural resources’.
This management has many functions: economical functions (wood production and other goods, employment…), environment functions (conservation of nature and biodiversity), and social functions (open to visitors, landscapes…)

IV - Why planting with Planfor?

• PLANFOR has a nursery to produce resinous and deciduous trees in clods.
• PLANFOR has a great plantation capacity thanks to its own teams of experienced employees.
• PLANFOR is based in the heart of the Landes of Gascogne forest, and works in the departments of the Landes, Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne.
• We plant quickly after the working of the soil.
• Just-in-time preparation of the plants. No storage on planting site.
• PLANFOR uses planting canes with extended beak to ensure a good planting of the seedlings.
• It is possible to treat the young seedlings, either in the nursery, or directly on site, with a cervid repellent (natural product TRICO FORET).
• PLANFOR suggests planting borders of deciduous trees or country hedges, to offer diversification.
• The PLANFOR teams are self-sufficient thanks to their digital tools (geo-tracking).