THE FOREST OF MASSANE (PYRENEES) WHERE NATURE REGAINS THE UPPER HAND

After the botanist Francis Hallé presented his fight for a primary forest in Europe in Heidelberg in 2022, we present a special forest in the south of France: The “Réserve Naturelle Nationale de la Forêt Massane”, located in the Albères massif (Argelès-sur-Mer – Pyrénées-Orientales-Occitanie), is one of the few Mediterranean forests that has been allowed to develop freely for over a century. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 and is therefore a unique place to study the natural dynamics of forest ecosystems. The lecture will discuss the origins of this pioneering project, the current challenges for nature conservation in the face of global change and the importance of recognizing the value of these wild forests in public policy.
Diane Sorel is an ecologist specializing in science communication and biodiversity conservation. She has been working for the La Massane forest since 2014 and has been its curator since 2024. She works daily to preserve this exceptional site at the interface between research, conservation and awareness-raising.
With the support of Occitanie, BUND Heidelberg, NABU Heidelberg and Greenpeace Mannheim-Heidelberg

Free admission.