a cinerary forest planned in Seine-et-Marne

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An alternative for burials, which would also respond to the problem of the lack of places at the Avon cemetery (Seine-et-Marne)… As part of the future local intercommunal urban planning plan (PLUi) of the Pays de Fontainebleau, the elected officials of Avon have made a request for authorization, in order to allow the use of part of the Carmes woodsfor the creation of a cinerary forest. This forest space would thus accommodate the ashes of deceased people, after cremation, and would allow them to be buried at the foot of the trees.

Towards the creation of the first cinerary forest in Ile-de-France?

“It is an ecological concept which allows biodegradable urns to be buried in a place and their location to be marked with discreet funeral plaques or paving stones,” explains Anne-Sophie Guérin, deputy mayor of Avon in charge of the ecological transition. . There is also an economic aspect with a less expensive process than a traditional burial. »

Very widespread in Germany, this type of burial is not yet very developed in France: there are only a few projects in France, notably in Muttersholtz (Bas-Rhin) or in the village of Arbas (Haute-Garonne), which was also suspended by the State in 2019.

The very strict funeral law

In 2022, Elsa Schalck, a senator from Bas-Rhin had questioned the Government, evoking “a change in society that more and more people are calling for: to be able to make the forest their final resting place. » But in France, the regulations are blocked on several points.

On the one hand, an incompatibility with funeral law – the scattering of ashes in the countryside is authorized, but the operation must be free – and on the other hand, the urn must allow the ashes to be preserved, closing the way to biodegradable urns… The Avon municipality hopes to have found the solution parade…

“We could get around the difficulty”

“It is the biodegradable urns which are prohibited,” recalls Marie-Charlotte Nouhaudthe mayor of Avon. With urns made of rot-proof wood or stone, we could get around the difficulty and offer this new place of contemplation.”

Contacted, Thierry Mailles, the sub-prefect of Fontainebleau, indicates for the moment that he has not been contacted, but specifies that “the request will be studied to see if the project is compliant”. For her part, the mayor of Avon hopes to be able to open “the first cinerary forest in Île-de-France” in her urban forest “and therefore easily accessible to residents. » The municipality wishes to inaugurate the cinerary forest in May 2025, during the Cemetery Spring.

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