Montpellier: Stéphane Jouault defends the results of the Tree Committee, here’s why

There regional chamber of accounts -CRC- d’Occitanie looked into the actions of the Montpellier Metropolis as part of adaptation of cities to climate change. In her 47-page report, she raises several negative points, including “the late implementation of its territorial and solidarity climate, air energy plan”, which according to her remains “imperfect”. The report also highlights the policies developed around the tree.

Montpellier takes care of its trees

According to the CRC, “The revegetation strategy of the central city is not based on precise knowledge of urban heat islands”, while the greening of public spaces is a strong area of ​​intervention for the municipality, which notably launched the operation 50,000 trees planted by 2026…

The observations of the regional chamber of accounts scratch in passing the Tree Committee set up in February 2021 by the City, and which must give an opinion on all development projects impacting the existing tree heritage, in particular on the public domain, and designed “as a real instance of co-construction “.

“The 50,000 trees were to be planted until 2030. I wanted to accelerate: we will complete the program in 2026, 4 years early.”

In its report which is public, the CRC of Occitanie questions the role of this Committee, a remark which upsets the community. And especially Stéphane Jouault, Deputy Mayor of Montpellier, delegate for nature in the city and biodiversity and president of the famous Tree Committee which defends its results. The CRC also recognizes that the committee is active: in two years, it would have studied more than 140 projects concerning a total of 900 trees. The elected official reacts by hoping that the CRC will hear his arguments and not remain too… harsh.

Metropolitan collected the interview with Stéphane Jouault on this report.

In its observations, the Regional Chamber of Accounts explains that the Tree Committee does not correctly count the trees cut. Is that the case ?
Stéphane Jouault : Yes, that’s right, we don’t yet have a precise count of trees cut… But it should be noted that the vast majority of trees that are cut actually pose major safety problems: they are either dying or dead, and can fall. Apart from these cases, the Tree Committee remains faithful to its line: development projects which include cutting down healthy trees are not accepted. We are firmly committed to this. In just a few years, we have preserved many trees that could have been cut down. Cut trees are often diseased

However, on the tram site on Rue Lepic, trees (plane trees) were cut down and local residents are surprised at their disappearance even though they were initially supposed to be preserved… What is your explanation?
Initially, we imposed that the entire alignment of this street, approximately 70 trees, be preserved and this decision was adopted. It turns out that as work progressed, it was discovered that the root systems of some trees had overextended and were encroaching on the site. They had to be cut down because it was impossible to preserve the roots: the 8 trees concerned (on the entire alignment) would have been too weakened. So they were cut. I regret it of course, but it is impossible to predict in advance in this type of work whether the roots will be impacted or not… But the alignment, for the most part, is well preserved and these 8 trees will obviously be replaced.

The city, in fact, had promised to plant 50,000 trees… Where is this promise?
We are on schedule, and even better! Initially, these 50,000 trees were to be planted until 2030. However, I wanted to accelerate: we have already planted 25,000 trees and we will complete the program in 2026, 4 years in advance. I would like to point out that, in this type of project, we are subject to strong questions, particularly regarding the nature of the species that must be planted and which must resist climate change. In addition, the customs of the time, such as planting rows of a single species, such as plane trees or poplars, are a thing of the past. The plane tree, for example, is the victim of a real scourge, the colorful cantor: when a tree is sick, you are obliged to cut down the other plane trees within a 50 meter radius. This happened on Boulevard Henri IV, near the Jardin des Plantes… Today, we plant 4 or 5 species on the road alignments, which helps limit damage in the event of disease. The palette is limited on roads, because very tall trees are needed, but it is much wider in parks where we plant a greater variety of species.

For you, is the operation of the trees planted on the Comédie just symbolic or ecologically justified?
It is both a symbolic act which marks the return of the tree to the city and a necessary operation to better climate the city. The Comédie elms will ultimately help to naturally cool the city. We have already planted very mineral sites in order to fight against heat islands: I am thinking of Place Pierre Flotte, in front of the court, or Place Eugène Bataillon, near the science faculty. The issue is vital: we must cool the city with the natural air conditioners that are trees.

The CRC considers that the Tree Committee is above all “a steering committee serving communities”, and underlines the fact that it is not a “citizen committee”. Do you agree with this interpretation?
No, of course. The Tree Committee is not a registration chamber: those who make it up are clearly opposed to tree cutting projects, and we have saved many of them… In fact, this committee is made up of elected officials but also a CIRAD researcher specializing in trees, the LPO and the Ecologists of Euzières. If the Tree Committee didn’t work, did you think they would stay there? I don’t think that the LPO, for example, keeps its tongue in its pocket… No, I really think that this Committee is closer to a citizens’ committee with stakeholders outside politics. In any case, it fully plays its role and it has already protected hundreds of trees.

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