Rebuilding After Ash Dieback, Diversifying for the Future

The Context

In Hamoir, this forest plot was historically dominated by ash.
Sanitary felling, made necessary by ash dieback, profoundly altered the stand, making way for a complete regeneration of the forest.

Rather than replanting identically, the choice was made for a differentiated strategy, adapted to the site conditions and the owner’s objectives.

Two Complementary Objectives

The reforestation project distinguishes two zones with different functions:

A production zone along the road. This section is fully replanted according to a structured scheme:

• Alternating lines of Douglas fir and Spruce
• A border of Koekelare Pine on the driest part

Spruce, although not strictly native to the site, plays a role here as a nurse tree for Douglas fir, promoting its straightness and growth dynamics.
The main objective is forest production, in a predominantly coniferous scenario.

An interior zone focused on diversification. Within the stand — in the wetter background and on the south-facing slope — the strategy is different.
Broadleaf cells are planted in the gaps left by the ash trees, following a scheme defined during the field visit.

Selected species:

• Sycamore maple
• Red Oak
• Pedunculate Oak
• Chestnut tree
• Small-leaved lime.

These cells have several functions:

• Diversify the stand structure.
• Provide food resources (acorns, chestnuts).
• Offer melliferous potential (lime, chestnut).
• Promote the recycling of minerals.
• Improve soil structuring and stabilization.

A Mixed and Strategic Planting

In this project, we have 3 coniferous species and 5 broadleaf species.

The project’s logic is based on a combination of reasoned production, targeted diversification, and long-term resilience.

A More Robust Forest in the Face of Crises

The Hamoir project illustrates a current forestry reality:
health crises (like ash dieback) necessitate rethinking forest stands.

Here, the response is neither uniform nor radical.
It combines production, diversification, and adaptation to local conditions, in order to rebuild a more stable, functional, and resilient forest.