44% of the Franche-comté region is covered in trees, making it the most densely wooded area in France. These forests are a distinctive feature of the landscape and influence the lives of the inhabitants in terms of tradition and the economy.

Worship of the forest

While France elects its Miss France, the villages of the Haut Doubs and the Jura hold elections for the "Sapin Président" (the President of fir-trees). The tree is chosen according to criteria of beauty, height and circumference. Another celebration is organized when the tree dies and is to be cut down in order to elect its successor. This tree which is such a symbol can be found growing on none than 1/2 of the regional territory and constitutes the greatest forest of fir-trees in Europe, stretching as it does over more than 10.000 hectares. The region possesses besides the 2nd forest of leaf-trees in France, the "Forêt de Chaux", and there are also the forest of Risoux, Massacre and Joux. This exceptional natural resource must satisfy the requirements or tourists and the demands of the economy. It therefore necessitates an extremely careful ecologistic approach.

A rare diversity

The Franche-Comté forest contains an unusually wide range of species, from the oak trees belonging to the plains of the Haute Saône to the spruces growing high up in the Haut Jura. It thus constitutes an ideal site for the fostering of biodiversity. Here care is taken to preserve all wild life including big game animals. This attitude to preservation is also illustrated by the practice of collecting forest seeds which agile tree climbers gather and bring back to the sècherie de la Joux or drying-room. This drying-room is administered by the National Forest Office and encourages the renewal of plantations through the selection and conservation of the seeds produced by the finest trees. A real boost for nature!