These 13 municipalities of Sainte-Baume are committed to sustainable forest management

The commitment is strong and must meet certain requirements. It is part of a long-term, chain-like process. Each link—from owners to users—contributes to the preservation of the environment and the balance of biodiversity. All stakeholders also share ethical and social values. Under the leadership of the Sainte-Baume Regional Natural Park (PNR), ten new municipalities have signed up for PEFC certification (1) for sustainable forest management. From three in 2018 (La Roquebrussanne, Tourves, and Saint-Zacharie), there are now thirteen (2) certified municipalities representing 70% (6,500 ha) of the municipal forest area in the region. In addition to these parcels, there are those—which have been members for over twenty years—of state-owned forests, sensitive natural areas in Bouches-du-Rhône (department 13), and 10,000 ha of private forests. In total, 24,800 ha of the PNR are PEFC certified, representing almost 30% of the park's forest area (22% in 2018).

A specification

Each landowner must have a sustainable management document (guidelines, diagnosis, work schedule, etc.) and comply with the certification specifications. Depending on the area, they are committed to not clear-cutting or limiting it to 5 hectares, and to forest renewal. "There's a whole section on preserving biodiversity, aging patches, deadwood senescence, etc.," explains Stéphanie Singh, forest energy project manager at the PNR. The goal is to respect the animal cycle chain and natural soil fertilization. "PEFC also works to respect the forest-game balance."

It is also a question of having a sensitive approach at the landscape level "in the treatment of edges, by preserving bouquets..." And the use of herbicides, phyto-pharmaceutical products, OGN is prohibited and the use of fertilizers is limited.

"For communal forests, there is a multifunctionality issue: preserving the quality of life of residents, the environment... There are real management actions to be carried out so that the forests are healthy and fulfill their full role."

Landowners are free to choose the destination of their wood: for heating (hardwoods), paper pulp, or energy wood (softwoods). Very little of the land is dedicated to timber.

Training, safety…

Second link, forestry companies must also respect a list of rules regarding training, staff safety, proper working order of equipment, etc. In addition, they must be equipped with an anti-pollution kit and traceability of wood volumes is imperative, as throughout the chain.

Random checks are carried out – by drawing lots – on landowners. And on loggers' sites, "to see if the trees have been felled, if the remaining ones have not been damaged, if there are no oil stains on the cut, if there are no large ruts at ground level..."

Other links in this chain are the processors, firstly the sawmills, then the joiners, carpenters... "They are audited every year by an independent body" , like the paper mills, printing works and biomass power plants of Brignoles and Gardanne, which are PEFC certified. "Each member has their own certification number. This allows us to trace the wood."

The commitment of members can be valued at several levels: in public procurement - the PNR, for example, requires certification in calls for tender - to obtain financial aid for forestry work, the use of the brand in communication, etc. At the end of the chain, users actually have guarantees on the origin of the product.

1. PEFC: Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or in French, programme for the recognition of forest certifications.

2. Belgentier, Cuges-les-Pins, Gémenos, La Cadière-d'Azur, La Roquebrussanne, Le Beausset, Pourcieux, Pourrières, Riboux, Saint-Zacharie, Signes, Tourves and Trets.