Discover the commitments behind the Canal
Find here the structural commitments of the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe and the project partners.
Discover the commitments behind the Canal
Find here the structural commitments of the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe and the project partners.
As part of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal environmental compensation program, the Canal Company , in partnership with the ONF (National Forestry Office), organized a horse logging operation in the Ourscamp-Carlepont forest in the Oise department. This unusual, yet age-old, practice is fully aligned with the sustainable development approach pursued by the SCSNE.
Concretely, the objective was to evacuate some cut wood from the forest to the nearest passable track, to then allow it to be transported to its exploitation site.
Rather than motorized vehicles, usually used for this type of work, it was Northern draft horses that skillfully maneuvered.
The main issue? Preserve as much as possible the fragile soils of this wetland as well as its typical flora, sometimes even protected, like the Smooth Elm.
The opportunity also to to perpetuate traditional forestry know-how and a breed of horses Northern trait in decline in France.
This method could again be considered for other environmental operations on the Canal if the context were favourable.
This logging operation took place on one of the environmental compensation sites of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal, consisting of creating an aging island.
This is'a freely evolving space, without forest exploitation for 30 years, aiming to promote the natural development of animal and plant biodiversity.
To prepare this space, however, some trees had to be cut down (thinning) to secure the nearby path and create space for the development of the Smooth Elm (regionally protected species) which is present there.
Several hundred hectares in total will be devoted to the development of aging islands (or senescence islands) near the Canal route.
On sector 1 of the Canal in the Oise, the SCSNE has established with the ONF an agreement to host compensation measures such as plantations, aging islands… A great opportunity to rely on the expertise and knowledge of an institution committed to serving the forest , the territories and the energy transition.
