The commune of La Motte-du-Caire, 25 km from Sisteron, is renowned for its apples, its landscapes, its outdoor activities… and its hundred-year-old redwoods!
By the end of the 19th century, erosion had reached catastrophic levels in the Southern Alps. The cause was deforestation, which had been going on for centuries, leaving bare soil vulnerable to runoff. Several laws were passed, giving the State the means to intervene. Forest houses were built to house Eaux et Forêts personnel and to prepare future plantations, thanks to the nurseries that surrounded them. Although black pine was chosen as the preferred species for reforestation, foresters liked to shade their houses with majestic and decorative exotic species, in this case redwoods and a few cedars.
A little to the north of Motte du Caire, the Saignon basin is a good example of ongoing research into the evolution of these man-made forests. There’s also an educational trail with information panels.