A new forest construction site in the Great Woods

Starting from Monday, November 11, 2024, a forestry site managed by the Alta Val di Susa Forestry Consortium will be launched within the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park on a plot of land owned by the municipality of Oulx, in the "Bosco della Sella" area - "ël Pshi(t) Bô", between the Col Blegier road, the section leading to the entrance of Enfers, and trail no. 3. From the perspective of protected area enjoyment, the work will involve the closure of trail no.3, in the section from Monfol to the Enfers-Blegier road, used for the purpose of timber harvesting, for about a month until the completion of the project.

Regarding the natural aspects, the technicians of the Biodiversity Area of the Park Authority have selected the plants to be cut - that is, hammered - together with the Consortium's staff, aiming to improve the ecological balance of the habitat. The tree population in the area is mainly composed of similarly aged larch trees, with subsequent growth of Swiss stone pines and red firs. The growth of vegetation in that area has led to a significant increase in the height of the trees, which do not provide sufficient light to the ground necessary for forest renewal.

The goal is to promote a greater variety of species and ages among the plants through selective cutting aimed at widening the gaps in the vegetation. This will allow the growth of younger larch individuals along with diversification of the present species, with a greater expansion of Swiss stone pine and red fir. A varied forest environment indeed presents a habitat richer in biodiversity and more resilient to natural disasters or disease spread.

The total intervention area is 19.13 hectares and involves cutting 571 plants carefully selected to protect nesting sites and dendromicrohabitats.