CNRS Ecologist Calls for More Diverse Landscapes to Protect Against Wildfires

Arcachon – 28 July 2026: While the major fire in Gironde has been stabilized according to the authorities, ecologist Philippe Grandcolas is calling for a long-term transformation of landscapes particularly at risk from fire. The deputy scientific director of the CNRS Institute of Ecology and Environment told broadcaster Franceinfo that resilient ecosystems require diversity. The fires in the southwest have exposed the limits of large-scale uniform vegetation under extreme heat.

During the night into Tuesday, emergency crews battled several new fire hotspots north of Le Porge and in the north of the Cap-Ferret peninsula. According to the authorities, the fires were brought under control; the area already burned did not expand. However, the operation is not yet over. Temperatures between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius were expected inland in Gironde on 28 July. There were also winds that could reignite smoldering embers and complicate firefighting efforts.

Grandcolas points to the historic landscape of the Landes region, where forests, agricultural land and open areas were more closely interwoven. Such a structure could slow the spread of fires by breaking up large, continuous fuel areas. This is not intended as a short-term operational instruction for firefighters, but rather as an ecological guideline for reforestation, land use and preventive fire protection.

According to researchers, the composition of forests also plays an important role. In May, the CNRS noted that intense or recurring vegetation fires can permanently damage soils and ecosystems. Fire can homogenize landscapes, thereby creating conditions in which later fires can spread more easily. Research findings from the institute also suggest that forests with several tree species can maintain their productivity better under increasing and repeated drought than species-poor stands.

These findings raise practical questions for the period after firefighting operations. Municipalities, forest owners and state authorities must decide which tree species to plant, which open areas to preserve, and how to shape the transitions between forests, settlements and agriculture. Firebreaks alone cannot replace long-term landscape planning. At the same time, ecological resilience, economic use and the protection of inhabited areas must be reconciled.

Grandcolas describes climate change as a continually changing normality to which full adaptation is hardly possible. His proposal therefore aims for landscapes that can limit damage without creating the illusion of complete control. In Gironde, emergency crews continue to monitor smoldering embers and possible new fire hotspots; because of the expected heat and wind, the area remains under heightened observation.