After the Saumos fire: maritime pines are set to return, but with greater diversity

Saumos – 30 July 2026: While the Saumos forest fire in Gironde is not yet fully under control, the debate over the future of the devastated areas has already begun. According to the French government, the fire, which broke out on 22 July, has affected around 42,000 hectares. Reforestation is likely to take years and will determine how resilient the forest will be in the future against drought, heat and further fires.

Forest ecophysiologist Sylvain Delzon continues to consider maritime pine the suitable tree species for the Landes de Gascogne. It is adapted to the region’s sandy, nutrient-poor soils and copes comparatively well with summer drought. In his view, converting the burned areas to another use would not be an appropriate response to the disaster. The forest performs ecological and economic functions that cannot be replaced in the short term.

However, simply restoring uniform stands will not be enough, in Delzon’s assessment. New plantings should combine maritime pines of different genetic origins. Individual trees then respond differently to water shortages, heat or disease. This neither prevents drought nor fire, but it can reduce the risk that entire stands collapse simultaneously under the same stresses.

Forest management must also change. Sandy soils retain little water and dry out quickly during prolonged heatwaves. When pines stand close together and combustible plant material accumulates on the ground, flames can spread particularly rapidly. Regularly maintained firebreaks, controlled undergrowth and access routes enabling emergency services to reach threatened forest sections are therefore needed. Lower stand density can also reduce competition among trees for water.

Reforestation can begin only once the immediate danger has passed. First, the affected areas must be mapped, damaged trees assessed and risks from unstable trunks or smouldering hotspots eliminated. Where seed trees have survived and the soil has remained sufficiently protected, natural regeneration is an option. In more severely destroyed areas, targeted planting is likely to be necessary. The choice of method will depend on soil conditions, remaining vegetation and the extent of heat damage.

The scale of the fire makes reconstruction a task extending far beyond forestry. According to government figures, 220,000 people have been evacuated as a precaution since the operation began; at times, more than 2,500 firefighters were on site. How the forests are replanted and maintained therefore affects the protection of settlements and transport routes as much as the economic future of regional forestry operations.