Our environmental considerations have led us to develop a reforestation plan for the Courchevel ski area. Why?
🌲 The forest, an essential pillar of our ski areas
Forests cover 15% of our mountain areas , or 915 hectares . Far more than just scenery, they play a crucial role:
- soil stabilization and natural slope protection,
- landscape enhancement,
- carbon sequestration,
- refuge for biodiversity.
However, these environments are becoming more vulnerable. Climate change exacerbates stresses (drought, heat, parasites such as bark beetles), and certain developments can fragment habitats. This fragility reduces the resilience of ecosystems and increases natural hazards.
🌱 Integrated and responsible forest management
Faced with these challenges, integrating the forest into the heart of estate management is essential. Our actions aim to:
- preserve existing wooded areas,
- limit the impact of the works,
- replant with species adapted to future conditions,
- to promote local resources to support the timber industry.
These steps strengthen both the sustainability of our resorts and the good health of the forests.
🌳 Forest diversity to be valued
The inventories carried out within the framework of our Environmental Observatory reveal a mosaic of environments:
- spruce forests (80%),
- Swiss pine forests (10%),
- various deciduous forests (10%).
This diversity constitutes an ecological asset and a resource to be managed carefully.
The reforestation plan
This reforestation plan allows us to address both of our related concerns:
- to our carbon footprints in order to anticipate potential carbon capture.
- to our shutter biodiversity with in particular our 5 quiet zones with the planting of plant barriers or the restoration of the bark beetle forest.
- to climate change with the planting of experimental species in order to assess their adaptation to climate change.
This reforestation plan was co-constructed through field visits with the ONF (National Forestry Office), the FDC73 (Savoie Hunters' Federation) and the PNV (Vanoise National Park).
Plantations in the Aiguille du Fruit tranquility zone
In the Aiguille du Fruit quiet zone, we are experimenting with the creation of a vegetation barrier designed to prevent skiing on the most fragile habitats. Beyond this protective function, these plantings help to improve existing environments , offer new shelters for wildlife, and enhance carbon storage.
This project is being carried out in close collaboration with the National Forestry Office and the Vanoise National Park , in order to select the most suitable techniques and tree species in a context of climate change.
In total, 900 trees were planted, from various species adapted to the site: Swiss pine, spruce, rowan and birch.
This project was co-financed 65% by S3V and 35% by the State Green Fund.
