Volume 1 - Forest Europe

Once again, state administration and foresters tried to implement the new techniques in all of
French forests. First of all, state forests in North-Eastern France – in the surroundings of Nancy–
were converted from coppice-with-standards to shelterwood; in a few decades, conversion
became the main aspect of modernisation of French forestry. In the Vosges mountains, close to
Nancy, selection was almost completely abandoned, even though some prominent foresters like
Puton did not see it happen without some regrets for the traditional techniques that had been
such a success for several Centuries. Only in higher mountains like the Alps did state foresters
consider selection, continuous-cover forestry as useful to protect slopes from erosion and avalanches.
Figure 2. Selection forestry in France, 1578-2006
Selection forestry between tradition and innovation: fi ve centuries of practice in France
Five main mountain massifs
Orthodoxy against selection forestry: the two forestry capital cities of France
A conservatory of selection forestry: the Jura mountains
From Biolley to Pro Silva: the return selection forestry thanks to nighbouring countries
3.2. Conservation and rebirth of traditional management
In the Jura mountains, shelterwood was not accepted as a reliable management system for several
reasons. First of all, it was further from Nancy, home of orthodox forestry science; second,
forests were – and still are – mostly private, or belonged to local communities; state forests were
quite marginal. One could also imagine that the post-1669 disasters, when foresters tried to
change traditional techniques, remained in the collective memory and urged foresters and communities
to be very cautious when confronted with forestry innovations.
Thus normalisation was not complete, even though France was at that time one of the most centralised
states in Europe; and this diversity eventually allowed the rebirth of selection forestry.
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