The sun is often out these days, the temperatures are cool and even mild… However, no, summer and its share of sometimes deadly fires will not (yet) rear its ugly head in a few weeks. And yet, defending against fires and maintaining forests is a constant battle, at all times of the year.
As proof, woodcutting work is taking place almost everywhere at the moment in the Estérel massif, on the Forest Defense Against Fire (DFCI) slopes. “We recently took care of the Cadière trail, on the portion between the Col des Trois Termes and the Col Notre-Dame parking lot, list Christophe Pint-Girardot, forestry technician at the ONF. The premises reopened to the public around ten days ago. Then, it was necessary to close the Malpey road for a few days, most recently, between the Col du Testanier car park and the Malpey forestry house. And since mid-week, we can walk there again, I know that the place is very popular with hikers.”
Before clearing
This wood cutting work, more precisely, is carried out by a specialized company, mandated by the ONF. “This is in fact preparatory work for the major clearing that will have to be carried out in the springexplains the technician. They fall within the framework of the Intercommunal Clearing and Forest Development Plan (Pidaf). The general public is unaware that firefighting takes place throughout the year. Even if it is less visible in winter, it still needs to be taken care of.”
The massif is thus, for the moment, entirely reopened to walkers, during the end-of-year holidays. But from January, these small cutting jobs will resume. “It will then be the turn of the Estarpe du Cheval trail, then the Cols route – towards the Duchess's forest house – and the long Italian road before finishing with the Roussivau trail – towards the campsite Estérel Caravaning, to the Roussivau farm”, announces Christophe Pint-Girardot.
Valuing wood
An important detail: the wood thus cut and collected is put on the market to be sold in a catalog, twice a year, and the money returns to the municipality when the wood comes from a municipal forest – and to the state when it is a national forest. “Wood is thus valued”concludes the technician.
Surface area of natural environments for each municipality and afforestation rate
Roquebrune-sur-Argens: 9,089 hectares and 61%.
Saint-Raphaël: 5,657 hectares and 62%.
Fréjus: 4,697 hectares and 45%.
Bagnols-en-Forêt: 2,879 hectares and 67%.
Les Adrets-de-l’Estérel: 1,258 hectares and 56%.
Puget-sur-Argens: 856 hectares and 32%.
The Estérel is the ideal terrain for walks and hikes of all levels. But due to the work regularly undertaken, portions of the road may be closed here and there. Attention! Because it can be dangerous for you. If you are injured, your insurance will not cover anything… Worse, if, in a vehicle, you drive or park on a DFCI track, this exposes you to a fourth class fine (in the amount of 135€, reduced or increased depending on its payment deadline). And there may be a traffic fine AND a parking fine…
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