This Wednesday, on the occasion of “Earth Day,” Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, visited the Castillon forest to celebrate the return of the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement, and Jean-Claude Bousteau, as part of his support for the “one million trees” program in the South region, visited one of the plots damaged by the August 2020 fire.
Together, they proceeded with the planting of a symbolic olive tree in an area known as a “fuel break,” where about ten trees will be planted to slow down or even prevent future forest fires.
Finally, Renaud Muselier, Hervé Houin, and Jean-Claude Bousteau signed the partnership protocol for the implementation of voluntary eco-contribution projects related to carbon emissions at the Roland-Garros 2021 tournament.
Renaud Muselier’s Words
“The South Region is the metropolitan region best endowed with biodiversity and the second most forested in France. Today, we celebrate ‘Earth Day.’ The Earth is a strong axis of our Climate Plan, and we will allocate 420 million euros for the next term for the preservation of biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, water resources, and, of course, the preservation of our forest. The ‘one million trees’ plan is one of the flagship actions of our Climate Plan ‘a COP ahead.’ Through this initiative, the South Region is committed to multiplying and prioritizing plantings and green spaces, which must increasingly inform our development policies. Accompanied by the U.S. Consul General to celebrate the U.S. return to the Paris Climate Agreement, the National Forestry Office, and the French Tennis Federation, we affirm this collective awareness of the importance of this natural heritage and its connection to the well-being of the inhabitants of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.”
“Earth Day” and the South Region’s Relations with the United States
“Earth Day” is an event organized in more than 190 countries worldwide and has become over the years the most significant global environmental event. The presence of the U.S. Consul General is an important symbol for this “Earth Day.” It marks the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.
The United States is a crucial partner for the South Region, especially economically.
It is the leading foreign investor in the region with 350 establishments and 108 American business establishment projects from 2011-2019, including 11 in 2019. During a March 2021 meeting between the Region and the U.S. Consulate, it was agreed to explore the possibility of closer ties between the South Region and the State of California. This meeting highlighted the similarities between these two entities on climate and environmental issues.
Indeed, several similarities have been highlighted:
• Geographically, the two regions are similar as they combine sea and mountains
• Both territories are heavily affected by climatic challenges: fires and floods are increasingly frequent disasters in California and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
• In response to the climate emergency and its direct consequences affecting both territories, strong measures have been adopted.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has adopted a significant Climate Plan “a COP Ahead,” which aims, among other things, to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and achieve carbon neutrality. California, on the other hand, a global leader in environmental issues, also aims for a drastic reduction in GHGs by 2050.
Initially, this closer relationship would focus on environmental themes. The Consul General has already contacted the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), led by the State’s Secretary for Environmental Protection, who is interested, and a first meeting will be held in the coming weeks between CalEPA and the Region and its partners on three central themes: water, biodiversity, and fire risks to foster future cooperation between these two territories.
“One Million Trees” Initiative
The South region is the second most forested region in France, with 1.6 million hectares of forest, representing 51% of the territory. This forest is characterized by great diversity of deciduous and coniferous stands, allowing it to store about 17,000 kilotonnes of CO2 per year, approximately 50% of regional emissions. It plays an essential role in the adaptation and mitigation process of climate change but remains exposed to a persistent risk of fires.
“One million trees in the South region,” an emblematic initiative of the regional Climate Plan, aims for 200,000 trees planted in the region’s cities and 800,000 in forests to ensure the renewal of species adapted to the Mediterranean climate. It is an ambitious program, aiming for one tree for every five inhabitants of the regional territory. This initiative notably enables forest plantations, essential when natural regeneration does not work and in cases of forest stand decline due to climate change.
The Castillon state forest, a true green lung for the local populations of the agglomerations of Martigues, Port-de-Bouc, Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, Fos, and Istres, hosts over 450,000 visits annually. Affected by the fire of August 24, 2020, over an area of 118 hectares, the Castillon forest saw some trees fall. The Region will propose to the Plenary Assembly on April 23 the financing of safety works in the forest for the public on the numerous paths in the burned forest for a grant of 60,000 euros out of 150,000 euros.
Partnership Protocol between the French Tennis Federation, ONF, and the South Region
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has been committed for several years to climate actions. In the framework of the Roland-Garros tournament, the FFT launched an eco-calculator to support reforestation and planting projects as part of the “one million trees in the South Region” program.
On October 3, 2020, the agreement was signed between the president of FFT, Bernard Giudicelli, the Director-General of the ONF, Bertrand Munch, and President Renaud Muselier. In 2020, the health context limited the tournament to very few spectators, but this partnership is being continued in 2021, and the use of this eco-calculator will be relaunched.
