Actions to maintain and restore the Luberon Forest’s biodiversity: focus on old-growth and ancient forests network

Provence – Alpes – Côte d’Azur, France

under the auspices of Unesco • Territory • Natural heritage • How we preserve forest biodiversity

• Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network • French Mediterranean Natura 2000 “Habitat ” and “Old-growth patches” French regional parks

• Luberon Regional Nature Park (1977) • • 77 municipalities • National Geological Nature Reserve (1987) • Biosphere Reserve (1997) • Luberon European & Global Geopark (2004) Park territory

• Luberon Regional Nature Park (study area) Monts de • Area : 1953.88 km2 ForcalquierForcalquier • More than 170,000 inhabitants

AptApt Luberon oriental ManosqueManosque CavaillonCavaillon Grand Luberon Petit Luberon

PertuisPertuis 9 Natura 2000 sites - 470 km2

Grand Luberon Petit Luberon Ochres

Natural heritage

• 1/3 French flora (1800 higher species) • 45% of French vertebrates (270 vertebrate species) Natural heritage • 660 spider species • 587 insect taxa of patrimonial significance • …

How we preserve forest biodiversity

 Dialogue during the elaboration of the forest’s management plans and before felling:

• ecological diagnosis, • period of tranquility for bird nesting in sensitive areas, • technical advice. How we preserve forest biodiversity  Conservation of the Luberon old- growth and ancient forests network

HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING

HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY

HOW WE SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE

Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network

HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING

 Ecological studies on forests and biodiversity reservoirs

Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs

 Forest description

Characteristics of biodiversity reservoirs in our Mediterranean forests  AgroparisTech / INRA study, 2013 : Is there a flora specific of the ancient mediterranean forests of the Luberon Park? 72 specific species

Teucrium polium, et specific of recent forests, et Mercurialis perennis, specific of ancient forests  IRSTEA Thesis, 2015-2017 : Forest networks and flora biodiversity Influence of connectivity and history/heritage

 GCP survey 2014: Bats activity in quercus pubescens forests What are the influences of forests maturity and naturalness ?

27 species and groups  INP Purpan, 2015: Evaluation of entomological biodiversity in 4 biodiversity reservoirs Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network

HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING

 Ecological studies

 Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs

 Forest description

Old-growth forest network: definitions

 Dispersal corridor  Forest reserve (Free evolving forests)

 Old-growth patch (Senescence islet)  Habitat tree

Lachat & Bütler 2007 Mountain range Forest range Plot range

Forest reserve / Old-growth patch / Habitat tree Free evolving forests Senescence islet Old-growth forest network Naturalness of the From 10 ha to + 100 ha from 1 to 10 ha forest matrix

Biodiversity reservoirs Ecological role « Dispersal corridor » Salvaudon 2013 Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs

 Photos taken from planes  Natura 2000 documents  Forest management plans  Other specific documents

& Experts knowledge: (local foresters, naturalists…)  Estimating the interest for conservation of old-growth forest network in the field :

- Evaluating degree of naturalness with WWF method

WWF, 2013. Forêts anciennes à haute valeur de conservation. Les outils d'évaluation Degree of naturalness

WWF Method At forest stand (1 to 10 ha)

• Wildness (perceived naturalness)

•Nature description & Diversity

• Human footprint

Degree of naturalness example

Diversity Naturalness

« La Tuilière » (, 84) The WWF method allows to distinguish between very different types of forests Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network

HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING

 Ecological studies on specific forest biodiversity spots

 Inventory of forest biodiversity reservoirs

 Characterization of the Luberon forest matrix: • Ancient forest mapping • Naturalness

Ancient forest mapping The forest ancientness has an influence on the biodiversity (regardless of the management type) Dupouey et al., 2002

• Forest coverage on 1860- 1870 maps • Recent land use studies • Recent French national maps of forests

Naturalness

Forest types classified by the National forest institute (IFN, 2012) 6 criteria inspired by the WWF « naturalness rapid assessement»

• Specific diversity of indigenous species • Natural habitats of high interest • Forest structure • Probability of presence of microhabitats • Dynamics of the forest evolution • Forest’s ancientness

→ Assessment for ecological continuity Forest types classified according to naturalness degree

Criteria Description Grade Criteria Description Grade

0 0 Low 1 Probability of Species 1 1 diversity presence of Average 2 microhabitats [ 2 – 4 ] 2 (number of High 3 indigenous 5 or 6 3 species) Pionnier 1 > Or = to 7 4 Succession Transition 2 Forest habitat Absence 0 stages and stage 1 of high phases

interest Presence 1 Transition (according to 3 vegetation stage 2 Matorral 0 stages) Coppice 1 Complete 4

High forest mixed Recent forest 0 Stand with coppice structure 2 or high forest with Continuity of Around1860 1 low density forest cover Proven ancient 2 High forest 3 forest

Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network

HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING

HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY

 How to link forests of high biodiversity ?  French Mediterranean Natura 2000 “Habitat trees” and “Old-growth patches” contract

HOW WE SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE

How it is implemented in today’s forestry

Mountain range Forest range Plot range

Forest reserve / Old-growth patch / Habitat tree Old-growth forest Free evolving forests Senescence islet network Naturalness of the forest From 10 ha to + 100 ha From 1 to 10 ha matrix Biodiversity reservoirs Ecological role « Dispersal corridors » -Strictly protected biological reserves - Forest sections - Recommendations - Forest sections classified as included in management classified « without -« aging ilots » ? / plans (not required) silviculture » in the « senescence ilots » = management plans old-growth patches in the management plans - Natura 2000 « habitat Existing tools for - « Exceptional areas » trees » contracts conservation and as defined by the - Natura 2000 « old- management Luberon’s park charter growth patches » contracts - Natura 2000 charter - Protection of the central area of the - Payments for Biosphere Reserve environmental services ?

- Other protected lands

Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network

HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING

HOW DO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY

 How to link forests of high biodiversity ?  French Mediterranean Natura 2000 “Habitat trees” and “Old-growth patches” contract

HOW WE SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE

The Natura 2000 contract’s

Species and habitats of European interest: Chiropters: Barbastella1, Myotis bechsteinii2 Insects: Osmoderma4, Cerambyx cerdo5, Lucanus cervus6, Rosalia alpina7 Habitats: Beech and Oak Forests

1 2 3

4 5 6 7

Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » and « old- growth patches » contract Network: A. Habitat trees for species of European interest

B. Old-growth patches

A. Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » contract for species of European interest

Eligibility requirements: • Wood species • Diameter • Senescence evidence* • Presence of remarkable animal species

*

B. Natura 2000 « Old-growth patches » contract

Minimum : 10 trees/ha Minimum area : 0.5 ha

Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » and « Old- growth patches » contract duration:

30 years

Maximum compensation:

A. 2 000 €/ha for trees + B. 2 000 €/ha for patches

= 1 ha with 10 eligible trees receives 4000 € in compensation

Conservation of the Luberon old-growth and ancient forests network

HOW WE INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING

HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY

HOW WE SHARE KNOWLEDGE  Geo-database  Awareness, education

« Système d’information territorial » = Shared geodatabase

www.pnrpaca.org

On this

Awareness, education

Many thanks for your attention

Copyrights PNRL, Max Gallardo, GCP, Emmanuel Cosson, Pierre Frappa, Aline Salvaudon, Sophie Bourlon, David Tatin, Arnoul Hamel, Mathieu Berson

Field trip

8:30 Departure by bus from the hotel parking 8:45 : panoramic view, National forest office presentation of the forest of Luberon 9:30 : Goult, La Grande Bastide, private property in Ochra N2000 site – Practice of the Natura 2000 « Habitat trees » contract. 12:30 : Picnic 15:30 : Presentation of Mount Ventoux forest. Presentation and practice of the WWF assessment tool. 19:00 Back to the hotel

under the auspices of Unesco