Frédéric Dufour, Ruinart has been working to protect the environment for many years. What's this new vitiforestry project all about?
Initiatives to promote biodiversity are not uncommon in Champagne, and have even increased in recent years. Dividing up parcels of land and planting hedges is nothing new. We are far from being the only ones mobilized on this subject. However, the Taissy project stands out for its scale (a single plot of almost 40 hectares) and its overall management. Vitiforestry is the application of agroforestry principles to the world of winegrowing. While not uncommon in the vineyards of southern France, it is much less widespread further north, particularly in Champagne. In particular, it helps to regenerate the soil by decompacting it. In Taissy, the first stage involves the creation of hedgerows and islands that will break up the uniqueness of the vineyard and create ecological corridors between different forest areas.
What is the "IMAGINE movement", of which Ruinart was one of the first members?
The IMAGINE movement, created in March 2021, brings together on an international level, actors wishing to mobilize worldwide for the preservation and regeneration of forests on a large scale, in order to fight the climate emergency and restore biodiversity. We don't claim to be experts in biodiversity, agroforestry or forest management. We draw on the expertise of Reforest'Acton, founded in 2010 and now with over 10 million trees planted in 25 countries, a player recognized for its expertise in creating and monitoring forests as part of projects to promote biodiversity and combat climate change. Their global approach (social, environmental, climatic...) makes sense to us, and we're delighted that they've agreed to support us and share their expertise.
Who is "Reforest'Action", with which Ruinart is associated?
If we compare this project to a building site, Ruinart is the owner and sponsor, Reforest'Action is the architect (they advise us on the engineering of the project) and the company carrying out the work (they take care of the execution of the project). Reforest'Action is neither an NGO nor an association; it is a certified B Corp (a certification awarded to commercial companies meeting societal and environmental, governance and public transparency requirements). The project with Ruinart in Taissy is their first vitiforestry project in Champagne.
In March 2021, you began planting perimeter hedges in the vineyard, and will soon be planting intra-parcel hedges.
Our aim is to set an example for the whole area, in all its aspects. Its location, close to a natural forest area, will enable us to create local ecological corridors that will help to regenerate the flora and fauna, thanks to the hedgerows and islands that will follow. Phase 2 of the project also includes two original elements:
- the creation of a micro-forest of almost 5 hectares at the base of the vineyard, close to a railway line, on adjoining land.
- the uprooting of certain rows of vines in order to plant hedges within the vineyard over a distance of almost 1km. This is probably the first time that vines have been uprooted within a vineyard to promote biodiversity.
The project is expected to give a positive boost to the area and to the wider ecological corridor between the Montagne de Reims and Mont Berru, and will have a positive impact on biodiversity in terms of flora and fauna, with new habitats for fauna useful to vine cultivation, soil regeneration and impact on water, as well as restoring the historic landscape of the Champagne vineyards.
