Sanctuarizing land for climate and biodiversity

Dear Difteur-ses,

We will be acquiring and sanctuarizing 16 hectares of land on the banks of the Loire, in the Loir-et-Cher region, offering a unique opportunity to protect local biodiversity,and provide itwith a sanctuary space.

The Loire, the last wild river in Europe, is home to exceptionally diverse ecosystems, indispensable to the survival of many species. By securing this land, we are allowing nature to reclaim its rights and providing a permanent refuge for local flora and fauna.

Sanctuarizing this land means preserving a precious natural heritage while helping to protect biodiversity and restore a vital ecological balance.

The land we wish to buy in the commune of Rilly-sur-Loire, is made up of several zones.

The 1st is a wooded area of just over 2.6 hectares. This area is already home to an interesting biodiversity, as it was already wooded in the 1950s (the available data don't go beyond that), and has remained untouched ever since. It will be very useful for dispersing seeds to other areas, and deserves to be preserved. Hornbeams, oaks, acacias and other species are present, as is dead wood on the ground, which is sorely lacking in logged forests, despite being so important for flora and fauna.

The other 13 hectares are used for forestry, probably poplar. They were planted some twenty years apart, and have all undergone clear-cutting.

Charres difteur-ses,

On Sunday March 9, we gathered at the association's new site in Monneville for a major clean-up operation. The aim was to clear away the garbage that had accumulated on the site before we could begin our reforestation project.

And to say the least, it was hard work! Between old scrap metal, paint cans, plastics and even a few abandoned car bodies, the site was in need of a serious clean-up.

Happily, thanks to everyone's motivation and good humor, in just six hours, the grounds were unrecognizable!

A big thank you to the volunteers present, thanks to whom we've taken another step towards creating a natural, biodiversity-friendly forest.

And thank you for your support!

This day was proof that, even when faced with a site that's a little daunting at first, when we get down to it together, things move fast!

Dear difteurs,

Since the beginning of Sowers, each year brings us face to face with new challenges and opportunities, while maintaining the original course: working together for the common good and the forest. We remembered a phrase about the last planting by one of the volunteer planters that touched us: "Something happens when you plant a tree". 🌳

This year 2024 has been another rich one with the purchase of three plots of land:

Louroux-Béconnais, Maine-et-Loire; Monneville, Oise; additional plots on the Abzac plot, Charente.

We also faced challenges, notably the stoppage of one of our plantations on the Château-sur-Epte plot in the Eure department last March in the face of an administrative problem. The trees planned for this plot spent the summer in extended gauge at Judith's, our local relay, before leaving by van (thanks to Laurent) for the Louroux-Béconnais plantation. Trees travel!

We planted in Maine-et-Loire, followed the entirety of the other 6 plots which are doing well.

We've also enriched ourselves with skills and knowledge! ✨

We now have plans to acquire at least three new pitches within the year, to increase our desire to educatethe general public. The Monneville field will have this vocation with a light layout and educational sessions planned for the coming months.

This year we will be structuring the association more strongly, and entering a stage of professionalization.

Dear difteurs,

Some sixty volunteers mobilized to help us initiate the creation of a new forest on 5.5 hectares of land.

Together, we planted 715 trees of 27 different species, adding a hedge to enclose the land and create a micro-climate conducive to biodiversity.

A large grove also saw the light of day!

Join us to continue sowing forests and protecting our environment!

Dear difteurs,

Discover our history in pictures! 🎥🌳

Our co-founder, David Buffault, shares the history, vision, and actions of Semeurs de Forêts at a conference for the CNRS Institut des Systèmes Complexes on the occasion of the Journées de la Science.

Learn how we create biodiversity-rich, perennial forests that are resistant to climate change.

David explains the origins of the association, right up to its current achievements:

- Buying back land to guarantee long-term protection

- Planting over 30 varied species

- Creating complete forest ecosystems

Together, let's take action for the planet! 🌍 👉

A big thank you for your difts and invaluable support!

#ForestSowers #Reforestation #Biodiversity #ClimateAction

We were at the Juvignies field in Oise on Sunday, October 7, to visit and maintain our forest planted in 2020-2021, and the trees have grown enormously! We can already see the forest in the making, and it was heartwarming to see the health of the trees and this evolving ecosystemn. 

Some areas are becoming so bushy that they will soon no longer be accessible. This is great news for local biodiversity, and we're all proud and happy with the result.
A big thank you to our difors and their invaluable support! 

🌿 It's back to school for Sowers of Forests 🍁, we meet up with Judith on the grounds of Château-sur-Epte in Normandy to observe the evolution of tree seedlings from our reforestation project using local species!
Since its creation, Semeurs de forêts has reforested and sanctuarized over 28 ha in France with:
- 45 different species 
- 6327 trees planted 
- 270 volunteer planters 

 We're delighted to share a highlight of the association with you!
David, the association's co-founder, recently had the honor of presenting the Sowers of the Forest story to some 40 managers. For 45 minutes, he passionately recounted the evolution of our association, from the initial idea to the present day, highlighting our commitment to the creation and protection of natural forests in France. This inspiring presentation was made possible thanks to the initiative of the Réseau Germe , whom we warmly thank for their invitation. Discover more about Germe by visiting their website: https://i.mtr.cool/qcumbpppxj
Thank you all for your continued support and let's stay mobilized for our beautiful planet!  

 Good news! New land sanctuary!

We are delighted to announce that on Monday of last week we signed the acquisition of a 1.2ha plot of land in Monneville (Oise)! We told you about it at the beginning of the year, and now it's a done deal!

In fact, this plot of land was saved in extremis, when some buyers were planning to set up a junkyard or cut down numerous trees to build a warehouse. Thanks to your support, we were able to preserve this magnificent listed natural area.

This land, which has been naturally reforested for 70 years, will be dedicated to educational workshops to raise awareness among young and old of the importance of biodiversity and reforestation. Before that, we'll need to clean it up, as it has been squatted and subject to illegal dumping.

We will therefore need volunteers to help us with this essential task. If you want to get involved and make a difference, join us! Together, we can transform this land into a place of learning and nature. Your donations are essential for these actions. Thank you for your unwavering support! 

It's official! Semeurs de Forêts is the proud owner of a new 5.5-hectare plot of land in Lourroux-Beconnais, near Angers.
With this 6th acquisition, 27.9 hectares of land are now protected and will contribute to the fight against climate change and the preservation of biodiversity.
A big thank you to all our donors and volunteers who have made this project possible!

Semeurs de Forêts is celebrating its fifth anniversary today! 🎂🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
This is an opportunity to take a look back at the adventure on video.
Thanks to all our volunteers and partners!
See you soon in the field or elsewhere.
All the Sowers of Forests team
________________________________
To support us: https://semeursdeforets.org/soutenez-nous.

A new Semeurs de Forêts plantation is planned at Château-sur-Epte from March 1 to 3, 2024.
Olivier from Com' La Nature, has generously donated around 500 trees that will find their place on this plot.
Volunteers welcome: contact [email protected].
Judith, the project's bearer, shows you the seedlings.
See you soon
Judith, Florence, David and the whole Semeurs de Forêts team

2023 is coming to an end... A year most rich in acquisitions, plantings and experiences for the Semeurs de Forêts association. We never thought we'd reach this point when we began this adventure in January 2019. Today, reality has surpassed the dream: with two new plots of land purchased over the course of the year, we are now up to 5 protected areas, in 5 different departments (Oise, Eure, Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Charente). A new plot will even arrive in early 2024 in Maine-et-Loire, with the sales agreement already signed.
A total of 23 hectares have been set aside (soon to be 28), nearly 6,500 trees of almost 40 different local species have been planted, and more than 200 volunteers from all over France have been on the ground for planting and maintenance sessions, not to mention thousands of hours of organization in the service of the trees, the forest and its inhabitants.Behind these figures lies a vision, that of creating oases for biodiversity, spaces that we return to nature with humility, baby plantations that we hope will evolve into natural forests rich in life, soils that we care for and the creation of links between us, Man, and the Earth. We are aware that any space that is sanctuarized and left to evolve freely has an inestimable value for all the plant and animal beings that will populate it. 
This adventure could not exist without you, by coming to plant, taking care of the seedlings and financing the land, equipment and trees. Remember that all Sowers are volunteers. 
We believe that our strength lies in this collective and in the fact that we can all work. 
See you soon,
Florence, David and the whole Sowers of Forests team 

We've just been planting on our new 7.2-hectare plot in Charente, which we bought just a month ago!
Thanks to all the happy planting participants!

We have signed a tribune at the initiative of the association Canopée published in the October 20, 2023 edition of the newspaper "Le Monde".
Along with more than 600 scientists, players in the forest-wood industry, association leaders and local elected officials, we are calling on the government regarding its forestry policy, which should build on existing ecosystems rather than raze and replant.
The text of the tribune and the list of signatories is to be found here.

We were at the Juvignies field in the Oise region this weekend to carry out some maintenance.
I took the opportunity to make a little video to show you what our plantations look like.
Sorry for the backlight :-/

This summer, we launched the acquisition of two new plots of land in France, totalling almost 13 hectares. Located in the Charentes and Maine et Loire departments, and supported by motivated volunteers, we should own them this year and begin planting operations early next year.
Funding for these purchases and plantings is provided by our partners like Captain Cause, and by a participatory funding campaign.
In total, the association will own 28 hectares of land in 6 different French departments by the end of 2023!
Thank you all for your support!

We were lucky enough to be interviewed in April by radio journalist Élise Andrieu for France Culture's "Les Pieds sur terre" magazine. Florence Massin talked about the association's beginnings and how we came to create "Semeurs de Forêts" in January 2019. We hope you enjoy listening.
 ▶️ Listen (28 min)

"If nobody can act from above, then maybe we can do it from below. It was time to stop remaking the world from our couch, and take action. Four months later, Semeurs de Forêts was born."
Time is running out. Faced with the collapse of biodiversity, climate change and its trail of bad news and eco-anxiety, Florence Massin and David Buffault have decided to react. To ensure a future full of life for their children, they thus created Semeurs de Forêts in January 2019. The association buys land and sanctuaries it, planting forests (but also letting meadows and wetlands evolve without human constraint...) rich in biodiversity. It also aims to share its knowledge and support those who would like to follow a similar path, which has now materialized with the release of the book "Semeurs de Forêts, Créer des forêts sanctuaires".
A veritable practical guide for everyone, the book gives the steps to follow to create a forest, hedgerows or copses, as well as simple advice and feedback. With one conviction: whether you plant one tree or twenty thousand, whether you protect one square meter of land or thousands of hectares, it all starts with a first step, then a second, a third... It's an extraordinary collective, human and civic adventure. It will help you grow and give you a new perspective on the world around you. Through this unique and necessary book, Florence Massin launches a vibrant appeal to restore our link with nature, and to recreate a new relationship with living beings.
"If a movement grows, if everyone starts planting trees, preserving them, watching wasteland and weeds colonize our streets, taking care of the soil and its microfauna, restoring what has been destroyed, then a civic change will already be here. We all have the power to act and the opportunity to use it."
- Florence Massin, "Semeurs de Forêts, créer des forêts sanctuaires", Éditions Eyrolles.

 📢  We've started planting operations for the forest  🌳 on our land in the Eure.
 📅 On March 7 and 9, we invited all people of goodwill to our land in Château-sur-Epte in the Eure to start operations to create our new sanctuary forest!
On the program:
➡  on Thursday, preparation for planting with establishment of the planting grid and augering of holes
➡  on Saturday, planting of large hedges around the perimeter of the plot to act as windbreaks, reintroduce biodiversity and raise awareness of environmental preservation.
32 people attended the event and the weather was fine  ☀ . We were able to complete this operation in much less time than planned, thanks to everyone's mobilization!
🌳  🌳  🌳 In the end: 500 trees planted in one day!  🌳  🌳  🌳 

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Partnerships that continue to diversify: Culture (Humana Project, Cabaret Solidaire, ...), skills sponsorship scheme, solidarity trade, 1% for the Planet France scheme, new initiatives (thanks Captain Cause!), we can't believe it!
💶 A giant leap in our funding with +79% compared to 2021, which had already seen a nice increase vs 2020 thanks to the efforts of the growing communications team
🌍 3 plots of land purchased for a total of nearly 14Has
🌳 4900 trees planted approximately with a very nice survival proportion over the year thanks to maintenance and watering sessions (especially during the summer), and of course a great diversity of species (42 planted in total)
💪 140 essential volunteers were mobilized during the year to accompany our plantations and make our action possible
👨‍🎓 7 actions carried out in schools close to our projects
Our action continues in 2023! Starting in March, we'll be back in the field for our new project in Chateau-sur-Epte (27), with lots more in the pipeline (publication of a book, other acquisition projects in the pipeline, ...). We won't tell you everything just yet! 😀