Planted maritime Pine forests - current status and changes in silvicultural practices in the Landes region

The forested area of the Landes area, which is extensive and plays an important economic and environmental role, is confronted with reconstruction in the wake of the two storms of 1999 and 2009. As a result of these, resources have considerably decreased which in turn will lead to difficulties in maintaining the industrial facilities starting in 2016. The article offers a number of areas worth investigating, on the basis of an inventory of the silvicultural practices, so as to take on board lessons learned from the succession of storms, prepare for climate change, and cater for the needs of the industry and for growing pressures in the environmental area. It analyses the fundamentals of maritime pine cultivation that might be maintained and opportunities for change, in particular stand management approaches that may be worth pursuing. (authors)