Forêts et milieux ouverts : anciennes et nouvelles légitimités (Forests and open landscapes : old and new legitimacies)

Abstract

Abstract. - The example of the Grands Causses area (SE of Massif Central, France), shows that, during the twentieth century, the legitimacy granted to the woodland has strongly changed. At the beginning of XXe century, the origin of the open landscapes of the Grands Causses area is explained by the degradation of woodlands (regressive successions). Cutting, clearing and especially overgrazing are seen as the main causes of degradation. Agriculture and post-farming dynamics (progressive successions) are neglected. The planning conceptions are dominated by the projects of restoration and regeneration of woodlands. Since the Seventies, the interest of open landscapes and ovine breeding is highlighted. Main planning objective is now to preserve open landscape from reafforestation and from natural dynamics of woody plants. But it seems that grazing, in the current economic context, is not enough to stop woody plants dynamics and that landscape planning objectives will have to be redefined.