The sanctuary of the forest of Massane, which dominates the Vermeille coast (Pyrénées-Orientales) has never known the chainsaw massacre of modern loggers.
Its last known exploitation dates back to 1885. Since then, this remarkable medium-altitude beech forest has never seen human intervention in the life cycle of its more than hundred-year-old trees.
Dead wood was never picked up.
Only the scientists and the conservation team of this national nature reserve patrol to observe the slow evolution of this exceptional biotope, which is home to 8,000 animal species leading a peaceful life without the slightest disturbance, in the shade of more than 50 000 tall beech trees.
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Last July, Unesco classified this wooded area of 336 hectares located at the summit of the Albères massif. La Massane has joined the World Heritage inventory. “Here is the recognition of the benefit of the free evolution of our forests. Men are finally starting to classify something other than what they produce themselves ”exclaims Joseph Garrigue, the passionate and fascinating curator of the nature reserve who expects an increase in visitors attracted by this Unesco classification.
“We organize very few guided tours inside the nature reserve so as not to disturb the forest and also because with the naked eye you can't see much.
We favor conferences with video or photo projections to discover the intimate life of this legendary forest.
It cannot be visited like a zoo and we are not in the spectacular luxuriance of a tropical forest.
Several marked paths run along the Massane.
They allow you to discover the sanctuary without disturbing it, ”continues Joseph Garrigue, who speaks of La Massane as a centuries-old sacred forest.
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Men have always preserved it as a mystical place with a sacred spring with nearby the ruins of a temple to Venus Aphrodite. The elders of this high land of the Alberes used to pass by to place offerings there. The Massane Forest National Nature Reserve is also a haven of biodiversity and one of the keys to the future of humanity. “France is far behind on the forests left in free evolution. This is barely 0.25% of our forest cover where we should be around 10% of unexploited forests. The President of the Republic himself must take up this environmental priority, ”said Joseph Garrigue. The Unesco classification is just the beginning.
