The Petite Sarine riparian zone and La Souche forest reserve – dominated by beech, willow and ash – form an exceptional ecosystem with a remarkable biodiversity. Genuine havens for a wide range of fauna and flora, they are home to a number of sensitive species including the Stock Dove, White-throated Dipper (water bird), Common Merganser (duck), European Grayling(fish), Yellow-bellied Toad, European Fly Angler (insect) and the Beautiful Demoiselle (damselfly).
Such species, well adapted to life in the ancient forests and aquatic habitats, depend on old trees, dead wood, and natural holes and hollows for their survival.
Dead wood, often perceived as debris, plays acrucial role in this environment, serving as a refuge for many birds, insects, fungiand lichens. It promotes the development of a rich biodiversity by hosting numerous organisms whose life cycle depends on it. In benefiting from the presence, of deadwood, these organisms, in turn, contribute to the balance of nature.
Management of La Souche forest reserve is based on the preservation of these ecosystems and structured around a policy of notimber harvesting for 50 years, there by allowing trees to come to natural maturation and encouraging an accumulation of dead wood. This fosters the regeneration of plant and animal life, while offering a protected space for nature to develop undisturbedby human interference. By protecting species and habitat diversity, the reserve contributes to maintaining a sustainable balance with in the ecosystem and ensuring the long-term viability of its various components.
Sources:
- Service des forêts et de la nature
- Jérôme Gremaud, biologiste, atelier 11a
