AFFORESTATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF A WATER CAPTURE IN FRANCE
The project consists in planting 42 ha of agricultural lands in order to protect the waters of Bromuel (Finistère, Britany).
CONTEXT
Water pollution is the first environmental worry for 66% of the Bretons people. The capture in Bromuel, situated in the district of Plouhinec and Mahalon (on the south tip of Finistère) makes up for 80% of the annual resources of the Syndicat Intercommunal des Eaux du Goyen (SIEG).
The district of Pont-Croix in which the harnessing is situated is in an area of structural surplus; the manure surface is too small compared to the quantity of animal excrements produced, which is consequently increasing the level of nitrate in the ground water.
PROJECT
It consists of transforming into a forest 42ha of farming land in the protection area of the water capture of Bromuel; this forest would be open to the public. We would create a pedagogical walk aimed at promoting the action for the protection of the environment.
9 species of trees are used for the afforestation, chosen according their geomorphologic particularities in each part, in particular the chestnut tree, Laricio pine and beech tree.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
- Protection of water resources and lowering of the levels of nitrate in the ground water thanks to the afforestation setting up.
- Rehabilitation of the local biodiversity thanks to the restoration of a cover planted with trees
- Diversification of the local countryside in a region turned towards agriculture
- Fight against climate change thanks to the storage of carbon in the trees and the ground.
ECONOMIC AND SOCAIL BENEFITS
- Diminution of the cost of water treatment thanks to the end of denitrification, having a direct impact on the reduction of the cost per m3 and thus on the general bills of the users
- Creation of local jobs for the setting up and keeping up of the tree-planted area
- Awareness campaign for the local population and the tourists on the stakes concerning the protection of the environment thanks to a pedagogical walk.
SYNDICAT INTERCOMMUNAL DES EAUX DU GOYEN (SIEG)
The SIEG is a state organization of cooperation between local councils, specialized in the collective water purification and water sanitation (treating, conveyance, distribution). Its water withdrawals fluctuate between 800,000 and 900,000 m3/year.
- Its mission: supplying drinking water to 8,600 households over 6 towns
- Its aim: reclaiming the water quality.
BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT IN 2008
Following the adoption of a prefectural bylaw for the protection of the water harnessing in Bromuel in 2007, SIEG offered to buy the lands situated on the most sensitive part of the protection area (defined in 1994). Wishing to deal with the problems of the biodiversity preservation and the climate change, the elected members of SIEG wished to convert the firstly farming space into a wood.
In 2008, SIEG committed itself to an afforestation program over 42 hectares of this area and called upon GoodPlanet who decided to support this project allowing, in the long run, the sequestration of important quantities of carbon.
PLANTATIONS 2008-2009
After preparatory works on the lands, plantations were done on the town of Mahalon in 2008 (21 ha), then on the town of Plouhinec in 2009 (21 ha). Because of the difficult climate conditions (a drought mainly), a part of the plantations of 2009 did not survive. A replacement of the affected feet was done in 2010.
PLANNINGS 2010-2011
The main activities have been the creation of two pedestrian walks, the conception of information signs and the opening to the public of sites via the promotion in the regional and local tourist offices and the schools. The Bromuel wood has officially been opened on 26 May 2011.
NEWS
On 26 May 2011, the Bromuel wood was inaugurated and more specifically its natural recreational area:
- Two pedestrian walks that are signposted and marked out: over 2km and 7km respectively.
- Pedagogical information available to all: signs along the walk for a better understanding the ecological systems and about the motivations for the project.
Thanks to the opening of the natural recreational area, people can practise freely some outdoor activities (walk, bicycle…) and benefit from a privileged contact with the nature.
METHODOLOGY OF EX-ACT/span>
To assess the reduction of the greenhouse gas (GHG) allowed thanks to the project, GoodPlanet used the EX-ACT software (Ex-ante Carbon-balance tool).
EX-ACT is a tool developed jointly by three departments of the FAO (TCS, TCI and ESA) based on the farming and forestry development projects on the GHG emissions and the carbon-sequestration.
Logic of the EX-ACT tool
On the basis that an assessment done from the four main essences: chestnut, oak, pine and beech trees (representing 89% of the total plantations), the project should allow to sequestrate around the equivalent of 14,300 ton of CO2 over 30 years.
The sequestrated carbon is spreading over three main distinct areas:
- Wood on foot: 55%
- Litter and dead wood: 22%
- Grounds: 23%
This storage of carbon corresponds to the average GHG emissions of 56 French persons over the same period of time.
