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| Forêt de la Double | |
|---|---|
| Name | Forêt de la Double |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Dordogne |
| Area km2 | 150 |
Forêt de la Double The Forêt de la Double is a temperate woodland in the Dordogne of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France, characterized by extensive oak and pine stands, peat bogs, and a mosaic of streams and ponds. Lying between the Périgord vert and the Périgord central, it forms part of a network of historic landscapes connected to nearby towns such as Périgueux, Ribérac, Saint-Astier, and Brantôme. The forest's cultural and natural features link it to regional sites including the Château de Jumilhac, the Abbey of Saint-Amand-de-Coly, and the waterways of the Isle (river) basin.
The forest occupies terrain on the Aquitaine Basin with soils derived from Tertiary and Quaternary deposits, bordered by the Dronne (river), the Isle (river), and the Auvézère (river), and intersected by roads connecting Angoulême, Bordeaux, Limoges, and Bergerac. Elevation varies modestly between plateaus and shallow valleys near communes such as Saint-Privat-des-Prés, Sainte-Orse, and Champagne-et-Fontaine, and is drained by tributaries feeding into the Gironde estuary system. The regional climate is influenced by proximity to the Bay of Biscay and continental airflows affecting Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, producing mild winters and warm summers comparable to conditions recorded in Périgueux station and Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport meteorological records.
Human presence dates to prehistoric times with archaeological finds comparable to sites in Lascaux, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, and the Dordogne Valley, while Roman-era routes linked settlements near Vesunna (ancient Périgueux) and villas recorded in regional itineraries. In the medieval period the forest lay within the domains contested during the Hundred Years' War and saw activities tied to the County of Périgord and the influence of monastic houses like Abbey of Brantôme and Saint-Avit-Sénieur Abbey. Land tenure evolved through feudal rights, the Ancien Régime forest laws, and later reforms after the French Revolution that redistributed holdings around communes such as La Roche-Chalais and Ribérac. In the 19th century forestry practices shifted with influences from figures associated with the École nationale des eaux et forêts and timber markets connected to Bordeaux shipping and the rail network including Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi lines. Twentieth-century events, including occupations and resistance in World War II, affected local communities like Saint-Aulaye-Puymangou and shaped postwar rural policy implemented via institutions such as the Office national des forêts.
The forest's vegetation matrix is dominated by species similar to those catalogued in inventories at Parc naturel régional Périgord-Limousin and other southwestern woodlands: sessile oak and pedunculate oak stands alongside Scots pine and maritime pine plantations introduced during reforestation programs promoted by the Office national des forêts and agricultural policies from the Ministry of Agriculture (France). Wetland pockets sustain sphagnum peat and species recorded in surveys at Réserve naturelle nationale sites, while fauna includes assemblages comparable to those monitored in Parc naturel régional Périgord-Limousin and Forêt de la Double-neighbouring areas: populations of roe deer, wild boar, red foxes, and bat species studied by researchers affiliated with Muséum national d'histoire naturelle and universities such as Université de Bordeaux. Avifauna reflects migration patterns through western Europe recorded at ringing stations linked to organizations like LPO (France), hosting woodpeckers, raptors, and passerines that frequent habitats described in regional ornithological atlases. Fungal diversity and saproxylic invertebrates are comparable to inventories compiled by specialists from INRAE and conservation NGOs active in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Land use blends silviculture, agriculture, and rural settlement typical of Dordogne communes, with timber production integrated into markets centered on Bordeaux timber trade and regional sawmills associated with cooperatives in Périgord. Non-timber forest products, hunting leases managed through local syndicats and associations tied to the Chambre d'agriculture de la Dordogne, and small-scale charcoal or firewood provision serve local energy needs documented in regional economic plans. Rural tourism enterprises, artisanal producers from markets in Périgueux and Ribérac, and farm diversification programs funded by European Union rural development measures (including past Common Agricultural Policy instruments) contribute to household incomes. Infrastructure investments reflect departmental planning from Conseil départemental de la Dordogne and intercommunal arrangements among communes such as Saint-Astier, Ribérac, and Brantôme en Périgord.
Trails and recreational routes connect to long-distance paths similar to the GR 6 and regional promenades used by hikers, cyclists, and equestrians frequenting countryside near Périgueux and Bergerac. Localities host cultural attractions such as markets, craft fairs, and culinary events celebrating products like truffles and foie gras linked to Périgord gastronomy showcased in establishments across Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Outdoor activities include birdwatching coordinated with groups like Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux chapters, guided visits organized with offices such as the Office de tourisme de Périgueux and accommodation ranging from gîtes to rural chambres d'hôtes registered with local tourism boards. Educational programs for schools connect to curricula at institutions like Université de Bordeaux Montaigne and environmental outreach by NGOs including France Nature Environnement.
Forest management follows protocols used by the Office national des forêts and regional directives from Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with conservation partnerships involving Parc naturel régional Périgord-Limousin, local municipalities, and national agencies. Biodiversity monitoring draws on expertise from Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, research projects at INRAE and universities, and citizen science coordinated by organizations such as LPO (France) and France Nature Environnement. Policy instruments addressing invasive species, sustainable timber certification similar to PEFC schemes, and Natura 2000-style network planning inform habitat protection and ecosystem service valuation in line with EU directives managed through Agence française pour la biodiversité frameworks. Cross-sector collaboration among stakeholders, including forestry unions, hunting federations, and cultural heritage bodies tied to sites like Château de Bourdeilles supports integrated landscape stewardship.
Category:Forests of Dordogne