The Charvols Arboretum, owned by CAPEV, is located in the Livradois biogeographical area, which is predominantly forested and where forestry is the number one employer. The site is part of the AuRA region, which is France's leading region in terms of volume of standing wood, employment in the sector and the number of qualifications offered. CAPEV also has a policy of promoting the wood industry. Meanwhile, the UCA's research teams are internationally recognised for their scientific excellence in the field of tree physiology in the context of climate change, but links with industry need to be strengthened.

The Charvols Arboretum provides an opportunity to assess the potential and adaptive capacity of certain species of interest to the forestry industry. It is also a valuable educational tool for working with trees, shrubs and biodiversity.

This partnership project around the Charvols Arboretum will not only contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge, but will also serve as a tool for demonstration and exchange between scientific research and the socio-economic world on the major challenges posed by climate change for the entire sector.

The planned partnership is based on two well-defined structuring projects, which are described in detail below:

    A research programme led by scientists from the UCA's Laboratoire Physique et Physiologie Intégratives de l'Arbre en environnement Fluctuant (UMR INRAE PIAF), is supported by the Centre International de Recherche sur les AgroEcosystèmes durables (CIR1, CAP2025). The aim of this research programme is to investigate the mechanisms by which trees adapt to climate change. The scientific approach is innovative in that it combines a mechanistic approach (based on an understanding of the terrain and phenomena) with an empirical approach (based on statistical analysis). The scientific approach is also innovative in its use of technology, including the utilisation of drones for thermal and multi-spectral imaging.

     The Maison pour la Science en Auvergne with the support of the DSDEN, has developped an educational programme that aims to train school and university teachers and students. This programme includes the "1,2,3 Plant'Haie" hedgerow planting programme with schools in Haute-Loire. The majority of the scientific and pedagogical training for teachers is provided by Catherine Lenne, a teacher-researcher in botany at the PIAF laboratory of the UCA and director of the Maison pour la science en Auvergne. The training programme provides teachers with the knowledge and teaching methods to facilitate a scientific project on education for sustainable development with their class in cycle 2 or 3 (planting of a hedgerow in the school, "named" by the pupils).

Around these two structuring projects, the ambition of this collaboration is to articulate several complementary dimensions that can open the field to broader partnerships with other regional actors :

  • A transfer dimension to actors in the wood industry and, finally, depending on the feedback received, the possibility of a "living lab" type response.

  • A scientific and tourist mediation dimension is proposed to enhance the Arboretum.

  • A European and international dimension is proposed, with the possibility of linking this project to ongoing European research programmes.

In this way, this partnership has the potential tor:

  • promote the Charvols Arboretum and the CAPEV heritage
  • promote the work of public authorities
  • promote the work of the university and research in the area
  • sharei knowledge and raise awareness of forest issues
  • promote cooperation and advice on the development of the local wood industry
  • encourage multimodal innovation, which includes multidisciplinary approaches, partnership and performance.