Ajoux forest

Located between the villages of Mauves and Ajoux, on the slopes of the Serre du Pied de Boeuf in the Monts d'Ardèche, the forest borders the commune of Ajoux, with which it shares a name. It is located at an altitude of between 545 and 730 m, and the hills of the mountains is made up of of ridges and valleys irrigated by permanent or temporary streams. The area is facing North on steep slope of between 35° and 15°. The climate is continental and the forest rises on a granitic geological formation.

On the Ajoux forest site, part of the stand of trees underwent a clear-cutting before we took over its management. We have therefore planned to plant different species of trees in order to ensure the resilience and therefore the durability of the forest. This will be done taking into account the potential for natural regeneration. Depending on the overall state of the plot of land, European larch, sessile oak, Douglas fir and cedar will be planted as target species. The following species will be planted or encouraged as companion and diversification species: ash, checker tree, sorb tree, rowan, Norway maple, whitebeam, sycamore maple, wild cherry, walnut tree, Downy oak, small-leaved lime.

The commitment to preserving biodiversity in our Ajoux forest includes preliminary assessments of bird, bat and aquatic biodiversity. Bird and bat inventories are used to assess their presence and activity. A wetland that will be kept flooded in June 2023 is home to various amphibians and aquatic species. Action is being taken, such as the creation of buffer zones during planting and the removal of dead wood from the riparian zone to ensure that the watercourse flows smoothly, thereby encouraging aquatic life. This commitment demonstrates our holistic approach to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity for future generations.