Forest covers 86% of the Semois Valley National Park. However, climate change and the increase in large ungulate populations are having a major impact on its natural regeneration. We want to take action to make it more resilient.
Taking action for a more
resilient FOREST
Adapting HUNTING practices in the region
The gradual increase in large ungulate populations in our forests over the last few decades has had a major impact on the natural regeneration of the forests, with this abundant game preying on young tree shoots. Removing some of this game by encouraging safer and more ethical hunting is a simple way of limiting this problem.
Limiting feeding and preserving wildlife during mowing operations is another of our missions in this area.
Preserving wildlife during MOWING operations
Female roe deer and red deer regularly give birth near grassy meadows. In the 10 days following their birth, the young have the reflex to crouch and remain motionless in these agricultural areas. So, it is not uncommon for them to be fatally injured during mowing operations carried out by farmers. But there are ways of limiting these risks.
Objectives : save 30 fawns a year by using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras.
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Achieving a better forest-game BALANCE
While a moderate amount of large ungulates (red deer, roe deer, wild boar, mouflon) can be beneficial for forest environments, too much game pressure degrades the forest and slows down regeneration. In close collaboration with hunters and managers, we are working to rebalance the forest-game ratio within the National Park.
Objectives : develop an action plan to be applied in the region’s public forests, with impact assessment on forest regeneration.
Limiting artificial FEEDING by increasing the nutritive capacity of the forests
When the density of game is already high in a region, artificial feeding has a significant negative impact on the forest. Planting a series of fruit trees and palatable shrubs at the edge of the forest helps to limit the need for artificial feeding and the negative effects that this practice causes.
Objectives : plant 1,600 forest fruit trees in the National Park.
Experimenting with
HIDE AND STALK
Traditional hunting methods, with horns and shouting, cause a great deal of stress for the game and greater safety risks. Hide and stalk, on the other hand, offers greater efficiency and safety, while considerably limiting animal stress.
Objectives : install 350 watchtowers to enable hide and stalk over 3,500 hectares.
Changing FORESTRY practices for a more resilient forest
Our forests are facing many challenges, the main one certainly being climate change. The National Park is leading a series of initiatives to make our forests resilient in the face of these challenges.
Adapting forests to
CLIMATE change
Making forests resilient in the face of climate change means diversifying their species to enabling them to regenerate. To assess potential solutions, full-scale tests will be carried out in the National Park.
Objectives : improve biodiversity in the National Park's forests and increase their resilience.
Using local WOOD for National Park facilities
While it seems logical to use local wood for the National Park's facilities, it is not always easy to put this into practice, particularly when it comes to incorporating the local dimension into calls for tender.
Objective : to include "local wood" clauses in every call for tender issued by the National Park authorities; to create a pilot "local wood" sector.
Involving private
forest OWNERS
Although most of the forests of the National Park are publicly owned, there are also private plots. These are often small and form a highly fragmented group. We want to get to know these players better and encourage them to adopt a sustainable approach.
Objectives : create an association of private owners of the National Park.