French forestry and heritage climate adaptation

The French forest and wood industry is navigating significant transitions driven by decarbonization goals and climate change. The sector, which employs 420,000 people, faces an annual requirement for roughly 20,000 new workers as the demand for wood increases to replace steel and concrete in efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. However, recruitment remains difficult due to low public awareness and the perceived physical nature of the work.

In response to environmental threats such as droughts, heatwaves, and bark beetle attacks, regional initiatives like the PrepForeVer project in Vercors have been launched to prepare forest ecosystems and timber industries for long-term shifts.

Complementing these industrial efforts, the Monuments Nationaux network has initiated a national replanting program to protect 3,300 hectares of historical parks and gardens. A study from September 2026 highlighted that many landscaped monuments are highly exposed to thermal stress and fire risks. Supported by the AXA Fund for Human Progress, the program aims to plant nearly 10,000 climate-resilient trees across 13 sites by 2030 to preserve historical landscapes against extreme weather.