This Thursday, November 7, the Prefect of Jura, Serge Castel visited the Mutelet sawmill in Rahon, an emblematic site of the timber industry in the Jura and known for cultivating a family heritage while looking to the future. The State representative was welcomed by its director Pierre Mutelet, 5th generation at the head of the company.
“A cutting-edge company”
In the presence of Justine Gruet, MP, the visit followed all the stages of transformation of the oak block in this model sawmill, which has a production tool at the cutting edge of technology, particularly since it made a major investment of 1.7 million euros in an intelligent cutting scanner. “ We are the first in Europe to have one » indicates Pierre Mutelet who had received financial support from the State as part of the France Relance plan. In this sawmill nothing is lost! Each part of the wood is optimized and given the second life it deserves, with a 0 waste rule. The less noble parts are used to power boiler rooms, notably that of the sawmill.
The subject which particularly occupied the discussions was that of the protection of forest sovereignty in the face of climate challenges, on this point Serge Castel indicated “ climate change is here ! ».
The latter deplored the significant volumes of fallen wood following the bad weather in the department. The ONF of Jura (National Forestry Office) put the quantities of fallen dead oaks at 53,000m3. often in humid areas where wood was very difficult to recover for exploitation » indicated its director Florent Dubosclard who, with his services, is also confronted with the development of the bark beetle.
What they think…
Serge Castel Prefect of Jura
“We are facing a transition”
“It is clear that the wood industry is experiencing difficulties linked to global warming and we are facing a transition which requires us to rethink our management of wood to better promote it. The Jura department has the resources to do it, that is a certainty and if I came to visit this sawmill it is because it carries within it values of know-how and innovation which can provide answers to these issues. »
Justine Gruet, deputy for the 3rd constituency of Jura
“We need to bring everyone around the table”
« In the Jura we have quality and quantity wood, particularly with the Chaux forest (second largest hardwood forest in France) and it seems to me, taking inspiration from the Comté sector, that we should put all the players around from the table. Collectively ask ourselves what destiny we should give to this raw material and what perspective we give on replanting and thus better plan for the future. »
E.S.
