Poplar plantations (France), from conflict to concertation: An example of strategy for a greater territorial resilience facing climate change?
In the context of climate change, forest plantations are sometimes shown as a solution for mitigation and adaptation, even if it is questionable. In order for this option to become a solution allowing greater territorial resilience in the face of climate change, it is important that the presence of these plantations on the territory is considered in a concerted way. This is precisely what is taking place in France: after years of controversies, stakeholders in the poplar sector and those involved in the protection of the environment or the landscapes now seem willing to engage in dialogue, particularly in the Loire Valley, at the initiative of CRPF (Regional center of forest property). In this article, we analyze this example after reviewing the controversies that surround poplar plantations and specifying the methodology where we rely mainly on observations and interviews. Although it benefits from a favorable context (the decline of poplar plantations), this approach appears as an example of strategy for greater territorial resilience because the territorial stakeholders have managed to agree on recommendations to improve these plantations, at least at the environmental level. However, some improvements are needed to take the social aspect more into account.