Pine cone harvest offers Belgium a natural defence against climate change

GENAPPE, September 13 - Perched on a larch tree, Luca Bruscia, a 25-year-old pruner, gathers pine cones to bolster Belgium's forests against climate change. The seeds from these cones will be replanted across the nation to increase tree diversity and resilience, after the country faced its largest wildfire in a century earlier this year. Bruscia's supervisor, Adrien Baudoin, noted the increasing frequency of fires and prolonged dry spells, warning that the situation will only worsen.

The annual high-altitude cone harvest takes place from mid-August to mid-September, as the pine cones are collected before they open and release their seeds. The team, consisting of four forestry workers, ascends up to 40 meters (130 feet) on tall trees, securing throw-lines with a tool resembling a giant slingshot. Once collected, the cones are sent to the forestry office in Marche-en-Famenne, southeast of Genappe, where they are dried, cleaned, and stored for future use.

The forestry office, headed by Eleonore Scholzen, sells the seeds for approximately €3,400 (RM15,900) per kilogramme, with a germination rate of up to 50 percent. Scholzen emphasizes the importance of preparing Belgium's forests for the next 200 years in a rapidly changing climate. With global warming causing frequent and intense extreme weather events, the country is diversifying its tree species, introducing arboreal varieties once common in southern Europe to improve forest resilience.

Scholzen explained that natural migration of trees is insufficient to keep pace with climate change, highlighting the need for human intervention to ensure the long-term health of Belgian forests.