In Bertogne, PlantC supported the reforestation of 1,575 trees! In total, there are four different species.
Sessile Oak: 275
Red Oak: 275
European Larches: 850
Hornbeams: 175
Project Supported by
Bertogne Reforestation in Detail
In Bertogne, this is a reforestation project where PlantC supports 1,575 trees over nearly 0.8 ha. There are four species: European Larch, Hornbeam, Sessile Oak, and American Oak.
This combination of deciduous and coniferous species is part of a reforestation of a coniferous plot post-bark beetle.
Using a diversity of species is beneficial for avifauna (flowers, fruits, and acorns, food sources for birds, insects, and small mammals, for example). Consequently, when leaves fall, humus is generated, and root systems are complementary. This will also impact the recycling of deep elements, the biological activity of the soil, the fixation and structuring of the soil.
- Planting Period: February 2023.
- Survival rate: 95% (and that’s thanks to the excellent protective sleeves the owner was able to install!)
- 72 tonnes of CO2 sequestered over 30 years.
Project conducted in partnership with the Royal Forestry Society of Belgium.
Visit to the Bertogne plot in 2024
We visited the site on May 2, 2024, just before heavy spring showers. The sky was laden with heavy, grey clouds. However, we took our time to visit the planting plots at our leisure, and it was a very pleasant experience!
After a bark beetle infestation affected part of the stand, the owner chose to enlist SRFB and PlantC to replant on his plot.
What struck us was the care taken with this planting. The owner spared no expense on protection, placing them on the most fragile species, but also on those most palatable to game. The oaks are therefore out of reach of deer, and that is reassuring!
The owner chose to plant a mix of Sessile Oak with American Oak, which will encourage its neighbor’s upward growth. This is a well-thought-out mix because the American Oak, which has more sustained and earlier growth than the Sessile Oak, will induce competition between the two species, encouraging the Sessile Oak to grow at a more sustained pace or at least straight if it wants to continue to have access to light.
On the adjacent plot, we find a mix of hornbeams and European larches. The larch, which is very intolerant of competition, is supported by the hornbeam. The hornbeam is a classic species in silviculture, often mixed to accompany other species. Its leaf litter is soil-improving, which allows the soil to regenerate, and it is one of the flagship species in the context of climate change.
The planting in 2027, what would it look like?
Perhaps you are wondering what the planting might look like in 2027?
Well, take a look!
Stay tuned for more forest adventures!
