The forest's call
On the Grand Site de France Solutré Pouilly Vergisson, the forest, or forest habitats, has a real influence on the landscape. Generally positioned in co-visibility with the Rocks, an essential element in the green network, it is also of great interest in terms of biodiversity. Little known in their ecological functions for the territory, forest habitats are threatened by impactful exploitation methods and rapid climate change.
The forest on the Grand Site
Spanning 2 ha, forest habitats occupy more than 300% of the surface area of the Grand Site. They are very widely represented in the municipality of Cenves which concentrates, with almost continuous forest cover over 1 ha, 600% of the total forest area,
In other municipalities, forest habitats are grouped into a few massifs of smaller surface area. Scattered within the vineyard, the forest most often flourishes at the level of the sommet of certain mountains and on the very steep slopes of the rocks: Torvon massif, 180 ha, Fuissé massif, 60 ha, Charnay woods, 50 ha, Bussières municipal forest, 60 ha, perimeter of the rocks, 50 ha.
The forest massifs are 75% covered by stands hardwood. Their precise composition is still poorly known in the region, but most often beech-oak-hornbeam groves, a habitat of European interest, characterize them.
Despite this high proportion of deciduous trees, a significant part of forest ecosystems is made up of coniferous stands resulting from plantations: Douglas fir on acidic rocks, Austrian black pine associated with cedars on limestone rocks. To the detriment of the territory's characteristic habitats, such as beech-oak-hornbeam groves or limestone lawns on certain mountains, these conifer plantations represent 25% of the total surface area of forest environments (around 550 ha). These species are poorly adapted to stationary conditions with wood of very poor quality and low economic value at maturity.
AN ECOSYSTEM THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
The core sites of this forest sub-structure form a constant background to the landscape, particularly on the slopes in covisibility rocks (Torvon massif and Cenves woods for example). They are reservoirs of biodiversity whose characteristics are still poorly understood, but very favorable when their structure is diversified. There forest management, called silvicultural, has a direct influence on the expression and state of conservation of these forest habitats, on thewelcome of fauna and flora, and on the quality of the landscape. It must take into account these ecological issues and landscaped, while considering that the climate change is at the origin of the risk of dieback of certain species, particularly conifers.
The mix of stands, the choice of species and natural regeneration are parameters to take into account in exploitation methods. Among the solutions implemented, certain plots are subject to management by irregularization of forest stands. The maintenance of dead trees, or those in the process of dying out, and the constitution ofaging islands make it possible to promote micro-habitats. Indeed, dead wood, dying trees and associated cavities are all ecological niches favorable to many animal and plant species. Saproxylic insects, certain species of birds and bats, wood-dwelling fungi, moss and lichens find refuge there.