Tons of plastic pollute the forests of Yvelines

Thousands of plastic sleeves were abandoned by the National Forestry Office (NFB) in several forest plots in Yvelines. Evidence of this pollution was collected by three environmental protection associations, on eight plots of land in the forests of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Beynes and Fausses-Reposes, and attached to a complaint filed on January 22 with the prosecutor. of Versailles, that Reporterre was able to consult. She aims atNFB for non-compliance with the Environmental Code, which prohibits the abandonment of waste.

Reporterre was able to observe in the forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye the presence of numerous remains of black semi-rigid plastic protections, originally installed around young shoots so that they would not be damaged by deer.

Some are buried in the ground by the passage of tractors, others are still positioned along the trunk of a tree several meters high. Photos taken by the associations also show sleeves shredded by land clearing equipment. Analysis of the satellite image archives of these plots shows that the plantations date back 15 to 20 years for four of them. The others appear to have been planted six years ago or are not readable by satellite image.

This large-scale pollution is recognized by the director of the agency NFB from Île-de-France West, Pierre-Emmanuel Savatte, contacted by Reporterre. He nevertheless minimizes: « There have been accidents and practices which, in the past, were not very virtuous. We are going to map the plots presenting plastic pollution and do the work of catching up. We need to correct the situation, but this is not going to happen with the wave of a magic wand. »

He assures that the collection of protective sleeves will now be systematic, « after more or less ten years depending on the species and fertility of the soil ». This is the time necessary for the vegetation to grow sufficiently to remove the brambles from the ground, making collection work easier.

The regional director, appointed a little over a year ago, also recognizes that a vegetation crushing operation shredded sleeves in the Beynes forest. « An accident »he said, adding that he has given instructions to pruning companies to stop work when the presence of plastic is detected.

412 to 782 kg per hectare

Jean-François Bron, from the Sauvons les Yvelines association, has done his calculations. He estimates that pollution represents 412 to 782 kg of plastic per hectare, depending on the type of sleeves and planting density. These abandoned sleeves therefore represent a total mass of several tonnes in the eight plots where they were observed.

« Everything suggests that other forests in Île-de-France present the same problem. »are concerned by the associations L'Appel des Forêts d'Île-de-France, Jade, and Sauvons les Yvelines, signatories to the complaint. « Some of the plastic will be ingested by wildlife […] and the other part will join the water table and the drinking water extracted from it »they write, emphasizing that « several drinking water catchments exist » in the forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

The risks of plastic for human health are increasingly better documented: several studies note correlations between the presence of plastic in the air, soil or water and an alteration of certain organs (lungs, intestine, etc.). , which can lead to various pathologies.

Of the “ additional investigations »

The plastic pollution observed in Yvelines has not prevented theNFB to benefit from certification PEFC (Forest certification recognition program) across all of its forests in Île-de-France. The specifications associated with this label « sustainable forest management » is deemed permissive. It leaves open the possibility of carrying out large-scale clear-cutting (up to 10 hectares), a practice which degrades ecosystems and harms the soil. However, this certification provides that the owner must « respect the forest area by preserving […] the sun ».

L’NFB obtains regional certification renewal each year, after an audit targeting four randomly chosen forests. In October 2023, the auditors concluded that « the total adequacy of the management applied by the agencies NFB Ile-de-France regions with sustainable management indicators »welcomes theNFB on his site.

Asked by Reporterrethe certification body PEFC Ouest claims to have, through its board of directors — of which theNFB —, « requested that additional investigations be carried out on the ground ». Of the « adapted measures » will be taken if « non-compliance with certification requirements PEFC is confirmed ».

« Stop razing forests »

This type of pollution has already been observed in the past, such as in 2022 in the Châtellerault national forest (Vienna). The local manager of theNFB then indicated to The New Republic be « aware that there is loss, at a level that we cannot quantify ».

The risk that this pollution exists on a large scale is therefore difficult to assess, particularly in private plots which represent three quarters of French forests. A recent study by the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe) reveals that three quarters of French soils examined are contaminated by microplastics. However, only 1 of the 4 samples taken in the forest showed traces of microplastics.

How to prevent the risk of pollution in forests ? Several alternatives to plastic sleeves are being studied (field fencing, wooden sleeves, sheep's wool or cardboard), but none has yet been established. One solution would be to limit plantings as much as possible. « We should start by stopping razing forests to replant trees. »says Sylvain Angerand, of the Canopée association, mobilized against the government plan « 1 billion trees » which offers bonuses for clearcuts. Natural regeneration does not in fact require planting young shoots, observes the activist.

« Normally, we let nature take its courseassures Pierre-Emmanuel Savatte, but artificial regeneration work is sometimes necessary, particularly when there are pathogens which risk causing tree falls. This is a safety issue for walkers. And these cuts represent a sacrifice for us. »

The complaint filed on January 22 is part of a standoff engaged by the three associations with theNFB. They accuse him of cutting down trees and destroying soil in the Beynes woods, as part of forestry work started on December 16, near a pond housing protected species. A first complaint was filed on January 16 for destruction of a protected species.