10 Tree Species for Reforestation in Gouvy

Forest visit on May 19, 2026

The visit took place under weather typical of the High Ardennes in mid-May: cool, slightly damp, with variable light but favorable conditions for observing the plot.

The manager recalled the site’s history: 40 to 50 years ago, the plot was occupied by a spruce block. Management is carried out through 5-hectare cuts every three years, with the idea of gradually diversifying the species. The reforestation project thus began in 2007.

Plantation structure

Diversification remains focused on conifers, as soil and altitude conditions (500–600 m) significantly limit the possibilities of introducing broadleaves in the heart of the plot. The planting was carried out in strips of 5 to 6 rows, one species per strip, with a sequence of:

• Larch,
• Spruce,
• Douglas fir, and between these strips, rows of pines intended to facilitate future thinning.

The cedars, planted very young (about 10 cm), are still discreet but well established.

Growth and species dynamics

• The pine grows rapidly during the first 30 years, with effective apical dominance management.
• The hybrid larch shows very rapid but sometimes disorderly growth, unlike the European larch, which is more regular.
• Once the larch overtakes the broom, which is very present on the plot, it can be left to develop without intervention.

Pressures and hazards

Despite a late frost on the periphery of the plot, the survival rate is excellent. Some damage is visible:

• fraying from roe deer,
• hinds coming to feed.

The broom, which is very abundant, must be contained to prevent it from competing with the young plants.

Ecological context

The visit took place with the cuckoo and the wood warbler in the background, testifying to the ornithological richness of the area. The plot was formerly agricultural, which explains the soil quality from which the young trees still benefit.

The broadleaves are present on the periphery and in occasional rows, for reasons of diversity and natural heritage.

Focus on the Northern Red Oak

The manager points out that the American red oak, present for about 150 years in Wallonia, often survives better than native oaks. Here, the plot is sufficiently diversified to avoid problematic spreading. In the event of stump sprouts, simply cutting them is enough to stop regeneration. As a heliophilic species, it self-regulates: if the seedlings are too dense, the young plants choke each other out.

Visit with Smart2Circle in June 2026