Grandpuits-Bailly-Carrois - France

With an estimated forest area of around 260,000 hectares, Île-de-France is the least wooded region in mainland France. Forest covers 21% of the Ile-de-France territory, a rate of afforestation that places it slightly below the national average (31%). Seine-et-Marne is ranked 60th in terms of forest cover, with an afforestation rate of 23%. 90% of the forests in Seine-et-Marne are deciduous. Holm and pedunculate oaks predominate, followed by ash and chestnut.

Seine-et-Marne's forests include the Forest of Fontainebleau, the most popular in the Île-de-France region, famous for inspiring many 19th-century artists, and internationally renowned for bouldering. The forest includes 2,350 ha of biological reserves, parts of which have not been clear-cut since 1372.

The Brie plateau, a highly fertile agricultural area, has been largely reparcelled to make way for vast cereal farms. In addition to the large state-owned forests (Fontainebleau, Villefermoy), some wooded areas have survived, mainly for hunting. The property concerned by the project belongs to a private individual who has recovered part (200 ha in total) of a family estate. This owner has his second home here, rents out the farmland (120 ha) to local farmers and directly manages his woodland (75 ha), giving priority to planting mature trees for recreational use (walking and hunting) and the production of quality timber. He is committed to developing his property over the long term.