Climate change and risks Reading time 2 min
INRAE forest research infrastructure destroyed by fires in Gironde
PRESS RELEASE - The recent wildfires in Gironde in south-west France have destroyed nearly 80 hectares of INRAE forest research facilities, including several unique observatories that have been monitored for decades. The loss affects major national, European and international research programmes focused on understanding and supporting forest adaptation to climate change.
Published on 29 July 2026
The exceptionally intense wildfire, which broke out in Saumos on Wednesday 22 July before spreading to the outskirts of Cestas, unfortunately destroyed nearly 80 hectares of major observation and experimental sites at Castillonville, a designated “vulnerable natural area” (Espace Naturel Sensible) in the area. It also affected the maritime pine genetic resources conservatory collection. To date, the site’s two arboreta have been only lightly affected.
Thanks to the exceptional efforts of the fire and rescue services, under the coordination of the public authorities and with support from the heads of the research units, the buildings, scientific equipment and other experimental areas at INRAE’s Cestas research site were fortunately spared, representing more than 300 hectares in total.
Some of the research facilities destroyed were involved in European and international research programmes. These included the maritime pine genetic resources conservation collection, comprising material from different geographical origins; experimental plots used to test the effects of mixed species stands on ecosystem services and to develop innovative silvicultural practices; and plots used to model maritime pine growth dynamics.
These facilities were unique scientific observatories, some of which had been established and monitored for several decades. They helped document the effects of climate change on trees and associated organisms, study the impact of pests and pathogens on forest ecosystems, understand the mechanisms through which forests adapt to the multiple disturbances they face, and assess innovative silvicultural practices that reconcile timber production, biodiversity conservation and adaptation to environmental disturbances.
Their destruction represents a major loss, not only for research carried out in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, in south-west France, with our academic partners and stakeholders, but also at European and international level. Several of these facilities were part of leading scientific networks that generate essential knowledge for anticipating the impacts of global change and supporting forest adaptation.
Their destruction brings an end to long-term observations and experiments but has further strengthened the determination of the research teams to design and establish new facilities and to continue the essential work needed to understand and support forest adaptation to global change.
Building on their involvement in regional (GRIFON), national (FORESTT https://www.pepr-forestt.org/) and international (OptFORESTS https://www.optforests.eu/ ) research programmes, INRAE’s teams and senior management will use this reconstruction as an opportunity to work with scientific and professional partners to design a new generation of experimental facilities capable of addressing the scientific and societal challenges posed by global change.