Improving working methods for forest development plans: the experience of the Massif Central

Abstract

Since 2000, the private forestry organisations have been developing a new method of forest development: the forest massif development plan (plan de développement de massif forestier or PDM in French). Limited in spatial extension, this development method aims at improving the management of the private forests through a collective and territorial approach. We conducted interviews with the foresters of the 5 regions of the Massif Central (France). Thus, we qualitatively assessed the current actions, the forces and the weaknesses of the method. Despite de differences in the approaches employed by the different regions, our study reveals common features. An efficient application of the development plan is hence based on: (i) a simple and quick diagnosis of the territory; (ii) an implication of the local actors (particularly the officials); (iii) a long-term animation concerted with economic actors. Nevertheless, a quantitative assessment would only be considered at least after 5 years of development planning.