Let’s take care of ourselves – by taking care of our forests with ONF-Agir pour la forêt

Many of us see forests as peaceful places to escape, far removed from the noise and chaos of urban life. But, beyond their beauty and tranquillity, European forests are the world’s largest sources of industrial roundwood - and, more crucially, one of our most significant carbon sinks.

As Earth Day invites us to reconnect with nature, it is a good opportunity to remember that healthy forests are essential to a healthy planet – and therefore, to our own well-being.

As part of our Environmental action, we have been supporting for 2 years ONF-Agir pour la forêt. Which specific project is the Institute backing and what impact is being targeted on the ground?

Healthy Forests, Healthy Planet

Often called the lungs of the Earth, forests absorb carbon dioxide and release the oxygen we depend on. But they do much more than that. They provide timber for our homes and infrastructure, energy for our daily lives, and are vital reservoirs of biodiversity. They offer key ecosystem services too, from regulating climate and purifying water to improving air quality. Forests are irreplaceable resources for a sustainable economy - and they urgently need our care.

An Efficient Structure Engaged in Preserving French Forests

ONF-Agir pour la forêt, an endowment fund, was created by the Office National des Forêts (ONF) to facilitate donations for all those, individuals and corporates, that want to commit for the preservation of French public forests.

Private funding has become essential, as forests face growing threats: wildfires, increasingly frequent droughts, intensified natural risks, storms, and even pandemics… The climate crisis and biodiversity loss demand swift and large-scale responses that public resources alone cannot meet.

The fund brings together all society members, identifies high-impact projects, and facilitates collaboration between donors and experts. To date, it has coordinated more than a hundred projects with the support of 129 corporate partners.

Restoring the Retz Forest, an Emblematic and Multi-functional Forest in Northern France

The project supported by our Institute focuses on the Retz National Forest, a 13,000-hectare woodland northeast of Paris, shelter to diverse species of plants and animals. At the crossroads of three watersheds, the forest plays a critical role in storing, filtering and supplying water to the rivers Oise, Marne and Aisne. Like all French public forests, Retz is managed sustainably by the Office National des Forêts (ONF) to balance the various needs: wood production, public access, and biodiversity protection.

This specific initiative aims to restore the forest’s ponds and wetlands, which are fragile yet vital habitats. These ecosystems support species that rely on consistent water availability for feeding, breeding, and shelter. Over time, dead leaves and tree debris can fill these ponds and degrade the ecosystem within a decade.

Restoration efforts will protect nine threatened amphibian species and sixteen plant species, preserving biodiversity and the forest’s ecological balance.

A long-term commitment, step by step

The Candriam Institute always favours long-term, ground-level initiatives; it has partnered with ONF-Agir pour la forêt since 2023. This partnership enables the Institute to support every phase of the Retz project – from the preparatory studies (ecological data update, field inventory), to drafting the work programme and initiating priority actions such as controlling invasive species and protecting endangered ones.