Energy and wood in the French Alps: strategies for an uncertain resource

Abstract

During the last decade, fuelwood has developed in the alpine territories under voluntarist policies. Facing a next shortage of sawmill by-products, widely used for paper, chipboards and pellets, forest chips are bound to develop for industrial or local use. This is an opportunity for the alpine forests and territories, of which, nevertheless, vulnerability must be taken in account. Studying policies and instruments shows very contrasted approaches, which could generate tensions on the resource, and behaviors in possible contradiction with de development of a true green energy, such as: increase of transport lengths and then of pollutants emissions, degradation of the environment, and loss of the multifunctionality of the forests

Which infrastructures for which forest function? Analyzing multifunctionality through the social-ecological system framework

“…In accordance with the principles of preserving biodiversity and reducing gas emissions (adapted from the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 1992), the law on forest orientation (2001) recognized the multifunctionality of the forest. Alpine countries support the contribution of the forest to the sustainable development of their territory (Onida 2009, Avocat et al 2012. The general environment forum and the council of forests led to the adoption of a protocol of understanding among forest managers: to produce more wood while still preserving biodiversity by favoring a territorial approach concerted in the framework of multifunctional forest management.…”

“…Consequently, conflicts exist between different actors of the timber and tourism industry, and the objective of the current forest management entails a strategy to "produce more while protecting better" (Achard 2011). Within the forest, there are diverse species of trees such as silver fir, Norway spruce, and European beech, rendering its economic value high, but owing to topographic obstacles, the timber industry faces particular difficulties in mobilizing resources (Avocat et al 2012). Consequently, some parts of the Quatre-Montagnes forest are underexploited (Puech 2009), which leads to the aging of these stands and, eventually, to the degradation of the wood production aspect.…”

“…Certain behavioral reluctances are added to technical and economic difficulties; the topography represents another obstacle, which has an effect on the price of timber. The number of forest holders using skidders has decreased, and 62% of the Rhone-Alps forest area is considered difficult to exploit (Avocat et al 2012).…”

An Infrastructure Perspective for Enhancing Multi‐functionality of Forests: A Conceptual Modeling Approach

“…Three forest functions are considered as major economic and social drivers of exploitation: wood removal, tourism, and nature conservation. However, due to the mountainous terrain, these functions face particular difficulties linked to the accessibility of the resource (Avocat et al., 2012). In their approach, Houballah et al.…”

“…Three forest functions are considered as major economic and social drivers of exploitation: wood removal, tourism, and nature conservation. However, due to the mountainous terrain, these functions face particular difficulties linked to the accessibility of the resource (Avocat et al, 2012). In their approach, Houballah et al (2020) introduced a systematic conceptualization of the multifunctional forest management in the Quatre-Montagne forest by connecting functions to relevant infrastructures.…”