The mage of Montboudif loved literature, contemporary art... and trees.
On July 17, 1970, then President of the Republic, Georges Pompidou delivered, in a letter addressed to his
“dear Prime Minister”
Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a plea for the protection of trees planted along French roads, threatened with felling
“ systematic”
because they are considered dangerous for motorists.
A concern which resonates with the news of 2024, with many trees likely to soon be felled in Haute-Marne for security reasons, to the great indignation of associations.
“Safeguarding trees planted along roadsides – and I am thinking in particular of the magnificent roads of the South lined with plane trees – is essential for the beauty of our country, for the protection of nature, for the protection of the human environment,”
wrote the Head of State, after having read a circular from the Ministry of Equipment intended for the Directorate of Roads and Road Traffic.
Georges Pompidou's letter to Jacques Chaban-Delmas
“Paris, July 17, 1970
Mr Prime Minister,
By chance, I received a circular from the Ministry of Equipment – Roads and Road Traffic Department – of which I am making a photocopy for you.
This circular, presented as a draft, has in fact already been communicated to numerous officials responsible for its application since it was through them that I learned of its existence.
It calls for two thoughts on my part:
The first is that while the Council of Ministers is sometimes seized of minor questions such as the increase of an allowance paid to a few civil servants, important decisions are taken by the central services of a ministry outside any government control;
The trees, it seems, have no other defender than myself and it appears that that does not count
Georges Pompidou
The second is that, although I have expressed several times in the Council of Ministers my desire to safeguard trees “everywhere”, this circular testifies to the deepest indifference with regard to the wishes of the President of the Republic.
It appears, in fact, that the felling of trees along the roads will become systematic under the pretext of safety.
It should be noted that the movement of electric or telegraph poles is only considered with great caution and as a simple study.
This is because there are administrations to defend themselves.
The trees, it seems, have no other defender than myself and it appears that that does not count.
France is not made solely to allow the French to travel by car, and whatever the importance of road safety problems, this must not result in disfiguring its landscape.
Moreover, a notable reduction in traffic accidents can only result from the education of drivers, the establishment of simple rules adapted to the configuration of the road, while complication is sought after as pleasure in the signage in all its forms.
It will also result from less lax rules regarding blood alcohol content, and I regret in this regard that the government has departed from the position initially planned.
The road must become again for the motorist of the end of the 20th century what the path was for the pedestrian or the rider: a route that we take without haste, taking the opportunity to see France
Georges Pompidou
Safeguarding trees planted along roadsides – and I am thinking in particular of the magnificent roads of the South lined with plane trees – is essential for the beauty of our country, for the protection of nature, for the safeguarding of the human environment.
I therefore ask you to report the circular of Bridges and Roads, and to give precise instructions to the Ministry of Equipment so that, under various pretexts (aging of trees, circumvented requests from municipalities closed to any concern for aesthetics, financial problems posed by the maintenance of trees and the felling of dead branches), we do not pursue in practice what would have been abandoned only in principle and to give me an appearance of satisfaction.
Modern life in its framework of concrete, asphalt and neon will increasingly create in everyone a need for escape, nature and beauty.
The highway will be used for transport which has no other purpose than speed.
The road must once again become for the motorist of the end of the 20th century what the path was for the pedestrian or the rider: a route that we take without haste, taking the opportunity to see France.
Let us be careful not to systematically destroy what makes it beautiful.
Please accept, my dear Prime Minister, the assurance of my best feelings.
Georges Pompidou."