Réflexion sur le triptyque “forêt, biodiversité et changement climatique” sur la période 2006-2010

This article examines the position attributed to forests in public policies on climate and biodiversity in a new context: climate change will have significant impact on the composition and role of forests. The author takes stock of the follow-up given to the report produced in 2007 Preparer les forets francaises au changement climatique (Preparing French Forests for Climate Change). After briefly recalling its recommendations, the article describes the initiatives taken, the ongoing debates and concrete steps forward. Stress is placed on the involvement of players in research and development and an initial inter-ministerial investigation of the risks. The findings are less positive in the area of silviculture, harvesting and the biodiversity policy. Finally state governance must be improved through a more fully shared and more inter-ministerial strategic vision that is better harmonised in the field so that forests can be adapted to climate change with confidence.