France will plant 1 billion new trees (that's a gigantic 10% increase in its entire forest area) by 2030 to capture CO2 and preserve biodiversity. The announcement came during a speech by the French president Emmanuel Macron to the fire brigade (I link it here).
Fires and crazy weather
The drastic decision comes from a bitter snapshot of reality. In France, fires have destroyed 72.000 hectares of forest this summer alone, six times more than the average of the last ten years.
In his speech, Macron thanked the many hundreds of firefighters, foresters and security managers who helped fight the veritable inferno that broke loose. And he did it with the emphasis that he is dedicated to a war: “Welcome, heroes!” the French president tweeted on the occasion of the speech.
1 billion new trees and a new strategy
During the meeting, the head of state also announced his new forestry strategy for 2030, which aims to strengthen departmental and aerial resources.
Among the measures announced, the French president said that the departmental fire and rescue services will receive an annual budget of 150 million euros.
The biggest effort, however, is that France will devote to amphibious aircraft. There will be unprecedented spending on the sector: 250 million for 16 new Canadair by 2027. Today there are 12 across the country.
Prepare for the worst
“The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron […] thanked an entire nation who stood up,” he tweeted Gregory Allione, president of the National Federation of French Firefighters (FNSPF), in reaction to Macron's speech. Almost a mobilization.
It is evidently the right approach, apart from the praise of the forestry project, the climate change it will make future summers even worse.
Fires will be an inseparable enemy for the next few years, and France is preparing to fight them as in a war.
