The Géocarbone-Monitoring Project: Main results and recommendations for monitoring deep geological CO2 storage in the Paris Basin

International audienceThe aim of the Géocarbone-Monitoring research project was the evaluation and testing, as far as possible, of the different monitoring methods that might be applied in the specific context of the Paris Basin. Their main objectives are to: detect and map CO2 in the reservoir rocks;detect and quantify possible leaks between the reservoir and the surface. The partners developed several thoughts and research concerning the various monitoring methods. This enabled drawing up a critical overview of existing methods and proposing leads for further work. At the end of the project, recommendations were made for the stakeholders of CO2 storage, i.e. the government departments regulating storage, decision-makers, and future site operators. In addition, a proposal was made for the general design and implementation of a monitoring programme of an injection test in the Paris Basin, within a depleted reservoir or a deep aquifer

Autecology of broadleaved species

Anyone involved in timber production needs some knowledge of autecology. With the renewed interest in hardwoods in the last 20 years, they are increasingly being introduced by planting or encouraged in natural stands. The results in terms of growth have not always met foresters’ expectations, due to technical problems and especially because the species are not always suited to the different sites. While the principle of establishing hardwoods is not in question, it is important to be aware of the conditions they need for their growth. This is why the first component of the Pirinoble programme is about improving knowledge on the ecology and adaptation of valuable hardwood species. To support this, a wide-ranging bibliographic analysis was made of scientific publications in French, English, Spanish and Italian on the main hardwood species that can be established as plantations: - Wild Cherry (Prunus avium l.), - Common Ash (Fraxinus SSP.), - Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis l.), service tree (Sorbus domestica L.) and other sorbus species. - Walnut (Juglans SSP.), - Common pear tree (Pyrus pyraster (l.) Du ROI) and the European Wild Apple tree (Malus sylvestris Mill.). - Lime (Tilia ssp.), - Maple (Acer SSP.). Favourable site conditions for hardwood trees are now better understood thanks to numerous observations carried out in stands and a number of scientific studies. Some species have been studied in more depth, including the wild cherry, wild service tree, common ash, maple and walnut. This guide is based on the results of these studies, supplemented by the expertise of the authors. It includes a series of autecology factsheets that describe the site conditions in which hardwoods will thrive and the minimum conditions required for rapid timber production. The factsheets were published on a regular basis in Forêt-entreprise in 2012 and 2013 (see footnote at the end of each of factsheet), and are now published together in this guide along with the bibliographical references consulted

Dietary patterns of adults living in Ouagadougou and their association with overweight

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Urbanization in developing countries comes along with changes in food habits and living conditions and with an increase in overweight and associated health risks. The objective of the study was to describe dietary patterns of adults in Ouagadougou and to study their relationship with anthropometric status of the subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative food frequency questionnaire was administered to 1,072 adults living in two contrasted districts of Ouagadougou. Dietary patterns were defined by principal component analysis and described by multivariate analysis. Logistic regression was used to study their association with overweight.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The diet was mainly made of cereals, vegetables and fats from vegetable sources. The two first components of the principal component analysis were interpreted respectively as a "snacking" score and as a "modern foods" score. Both scores were positively and independently associated with the economic level of households and with food expenditures (p ≤ 0.001 for both). The "snacking" score was higher for younger people (p = 0.004), for people having a formal occupation (p = 0.006), for those never married (p = 0.005), whereas the "modern foods" score was associated with ethnic group (p = 0.032) and district of residence (p < 0.001). Thirty-six percent of women and 14.5% of men were overweight (Body Mass Index > 25 kg/m²). A higher "modern foods" score was associated with a higher prevalence of overweight when confounding factors were accounted for (OR = 1.19 [95% CI 1.03-1.36]) but there was no relationship between overweight and the "snacking" score.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Modernisation of types of foods consumed was associated with the living conditions and the environment and with an increased risk of overweight. This should be accounted for to promote better nutrition and prevent non communicable diseases.</p

Facilitating plantation supervision - Combinations involving secondary species

Research on how to enhance conditions for successful walnut plantations led to setting up experimental plots to compare conventional practices as single species, very low density planting with other methods where walnut is combined with shrubs or trees, or a combination of both. The outcome of this woody accompaniment is in most cases greater height growth and better tree shape. The effect on diameter can be positive, neutral or negative. Providing some precautions as to distances between species, this should allow for less upkeep and pruning as well as postponing the need for the first thinning until a “firewood” stage. Alternating rows of the main species with rows of rapid early growth species may be a valuable solution for achieving a mixed stand.Une réflexion sur l’amélioration des conditions de réussite des plantations de Noyer a conduit à installer des dispositifs comparant les modalités classiques, pures et à très faible densité, à d’autres, où les noyers sont mélangés avec des espèces arbustives ou arborées ou une combinaison des deux. L’accompagnement ligneux ainsi constitué apporte le plus souvent des gains sur la croissance en hauteur et sur la forme des arbres. L’effet sur la croissance en diamètre peut être positif, neutre ou négatif. Moyennant quelques adaptations des distances entre les essences, un allègement des entretiens et des élagages et le report de la première éclaircie à un stade “bois de feu” semblent possibles. Le mélange de lignes d’essences principales alternant avec des lignes d’essences à démarrage rapide apparaît ainsi comme une solution intéressante pour obtenir un peuplement mélangé

Appropriate silvicultural practices for mixed stands - Feedback from workshop 3

absen

The existence of "areas of stability" in stands. Consequences for management

L'étude de couples de peuplements contigus ayant réagi différemment à la tempête de novembre 1982, a permis de mettre en évidence l'effet conjugué du facteur d'élancement (H/D) et de la hauteur dominante sur la stabilité des peuplements. A partir de ces deux caractéristiques, il est possible de classer un peuplement dans une « plage de stabilité », qui conditionne les interventions à y envisager. Inversement, le gestionnaire, en jouant sur la sylviculture, peut influer sur la stabilité ; en effet, l'évolution des caractéristiques des peuplements d'Epicéa décrites par les tables de production françaises et anglaises montre que, même si la sylviculture actuelle présente des risques importants de chablis, il doit être possible de les réduire sensiblement par l'adoption de techniques appropriées : abaissement des densités de plantation, dépressages éventuels et éclaircies précoces. Il est également possible de maintenir les peuplements stables, sans les éclaircir, à condition de les planter à des densités inférieures à 1 300 voire 1 000 tiges par hectare.The study of contiguous pairs of stands which reacted differently to the storm of November 1982 made it possible to show the combined effects of the rapid growth factor (H/D) and dominant height on stand stability. From these two characteristics it is possible to classify a stand in a « stability band », which determines the silvicultural operations to be contemplated. On the other hand, by manipulating the silvicultural treatment the manager can affect the stability ; in fact, the development of the characteristics of Norway spruces stands described by French and English yield tables shows that even if the present silviculture gives serious risks of windthrows, it should be possible to reduce them considerably by adopting appropriate techniques : reduction of planting density, possible thinning out and early thinning. It is also possible to keep stands stable without thinning them by planting them at densities of less than 1 300 or even 1 000 stems per hectare

Lessons, Recommendations and Forecasting for the Needs of Private Forestry

Après les tempêtes de 1999, les organismes de la forêt privée ont demandé à leur institut technique, l'IDF, de formuler des recommandations pour la reconstitution des forêts sinistrées. Depuis cette époque, l'IDF travaille dans quatre directions :; tirer les enseignements du passé à partir d'un retour sur les parcelles forestières laissées en l'état ou reboisées après les tempêtes des années 1980 (1982 dans le Massif Central, 1987 en Bretagne, 1990 dans le Nord Est),; remédier à la situation actuelle par l'établissement de diagnostic simple, la proposition de différentes options de reconstitution, le recensement et l'observation sur des chantiers de différents matériels et d'entreprises susceptibles de réaliser les travaux, l'étude et l'orientation des perspectives d'approvisionnement en graines et plants forestier s.; préparer l'avenir en mettant en place un réseau de références pour la reconstitution des forêts après tempête, dans le cadre du Pôle Expérimentations Forêt Privée Française.; et, corrélativement, organiser le conseil, l'information et la formation.After the storms of 1999, the forest-owners institutions asked the Institute for Forestry Development (IDF) to issue recommendations on regeneration of devastated forests. IDF has since explored four areas:; learning from past experience by studying the forest parcels that were either left untended or purposely reforested after the eighties storms (1982 in Massif Central, 1987 in Brittany and 1990 in North East) ;; seeking solutions for the current situation by means of a simple diagnostic tool, offering a range of regeneration options, taking stock of and assessing the equipment on logging sites and the contractors able to conduct the work, appraisal and guidance pertaining to supplies of forest seeds and planting stock ;; prepare the future by setting up a reference network for regeneration of devastated forests under the French Private Forests Experimentation Scheme ;; and also provide for consulting services, information and training

Outils innovants pour une gestion concertée des forêts

International audienc