- Winter drought raises fire risk fears in southern France
- Tourism industry fears more losses after 2022 wildfires
- Rethink urged on biodiversity for fire-resilient forests
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Last summer's fires destroyed not just trees but the economic prospects of the tourist business in Nouvelle Aquitaine, one of France's leading holiday destinations.
In fire-affected zones, the hospitality industry saw an estimated 40% drop in earnings, according to the French sector's union UMIH, and there are worries 2023 could bring another hit.
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Last July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major reforestation plan that aims to plant 1 billion trees over the next decade, based on species and locations enabling forests to better withstand climate-driven threats, including wildfires.
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Lessons on how to reforest, meanwhile, can be found a two-hour drive south in Anglet, where 165 hectares burned in 2020.
Antoine de Boutray, director of France's National Forestry Office (ONF) in the Pyrenees-Atlantic region, worked on the replanting using cork oak and maritime pine, completed in March.
Regenerating the forest with a mix of species makes it more fire-resilient, as different types of "fuel" slow the spread of the flames and varied moisture levels reduce flammability, he explained.
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