Where is the campaign to plant trees along the Nantes-Brest canal, which is now the responsibility of the Region?
“We are in the process of finalizing the tree planting campaign for this winter, along the waterways of Brittany. This year, 1,400 trees were planted (or are in the process of being planted) on the entire Breton waterway network, including 805 trees on the Châteaulin – Châteauneuf-du-Faou section ”.
This operation covers which sector?
“Essentially the Châteaulin sector up to Châteauneuf-du-Faou for the first year. We are going on a four-year campaign with the company Nature et Paysage (de Bédée, 35) to work on the entire Breton river network. This Monday, at the lock of Trésiguidi, in Châteaulin for example, we planted 27 beech trees.
We adapt the species according to the zones. Near towns, we favor species with more beautiful foliage, more precious trees (elm, lime, etc.). It is also thought to plant fruit trees near the locks as in the past (apple trees, pear trees, walnut trees…). Elsewhere, we favor local species: beech and oak ”.
What is the budget for this operation?
“€ 60,000 are devoted to the campaign to plant 1,400 trees over the winter of 2020-2021, including € 19,000 for the Châteaulin-Châteauneuf-du-Faou section. It is paid entirely by the Region. It includes trees, maintenance for three years, staking, protection and replacement if trees die ”.
What are the planting techniques used?
“Near the Trésiguidi lock, there are trees in baliveaux, which are already preformed, they are 2 m – 2, 50 m. We chose a definitive spacing, one tree every ten meters. It may seem quite far away for the moment, but we have to project ourselves into 50 years, 100 years. We are working for future generations.
The other technique is forest type plantations. These are plants that are 75 – 80 cm high. We will plant them every meter, very tightly. The profit-money ratio is much more interesting, because it costs less and it makes it possible to select the most beautiful, the most resistant. We will be able to train them in the best possible way, but we need a little larger space. In Trésiguidi, you cannot choose a tree that will gain too much on the towpath, in order to allow vehicles and walkers to circulate. Depending on the situation, we will therefore choose one technique or the other ”.
What is the purpose of these plantations?
“The interest is multiple. First of all, renew the tree heritage: trees, which reach maturity, are felled for safety reasons or some have fallen during storms. For the past few years, we have had a rather negative report of felled trees – planted trees. So we are trying to catch up a little to achieve a balance at least neutral, even positive.
For the sake of biodiversity, we will also try to target the places where we are going to plant. The idea is to restore biological continuities for several species, such as bats, for example, which can nest in trees or feed in their shade ”.
In the event of a flood, does planting trees protect the towpath?
“This is not the primary function of these trees, especially since they are not planted on the bank side. Users come to the esplanade to see the canal. There, the goal is to maintain an open landscape. We will avoid planting on the bank side, because we lose the landscape and tourist side. At the moment, we are therefore planting behind the canal ”.
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