Forest senescence island

In 2016, a small forest reserve was established here, known as a forest senescence island. Within this area, trees are left undisturbed until they die naturally and decompose on the forest floor.

An area of 2.35 hectares of forest is being left to develop naturally. The municipalities of Veytaux and Villeneuve, which own the land, have committed to this approach for 50 years. This measure is supported by the Canton of Vaud, which provides financial compensation for the loss of timber revenue.

The creation of forest senescence islands aims to:

Preserve the natural dynamics of the forest while maintaining its functions and ensuring the safety of walking trails;
Encourage the presence of deadwood, a vital resource for many animal and plant species.

Deadwood is full of life

Creating forest reserves allows trees to grow old and die naturally. Ageing and dead wood provide essential habitats for thousands of species of animals, plants, fungi, mosses and lichens. In Switzerland, the ecological quality of forests has improved considerably since the 1980s. More and more forest managers are adopting nature-based forestry practices: they promote a greater diversity of tree species and forest structures, establish areas of old trees and deadwood outside timber production zones, and create forest reserves.

A very rare lichen

This forest is home to lungwort lichen. Highly sensitive to air pollution, this rare lichen is an indicator of natural forest conditions. It grows on old deciduous trees at higher altitudes, particularly sycamore maples and beech trees. Known since the Middle Ages, it has traditionally been used in natural medicine to prepare remedies for lung conditions and coughs.

Lungwort lichen is on Switzerland's national Red List of lichens and is therefore protected under Swiss law (Article 20 of the Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Ordinance, NCHO). It may not be collected without the appropriate authorisation, but it can be observed all along the trail.