Roland-Garros carbon calculator & certified projects

The carbon calculator

In order to pursue its commitment and action to fight climate change, Roland-Garros has set up a carbon calculator to support reforestation projects and the planting of a million trees in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region (South of France).

Developed by social business ClimateSeed (supported by Nobel Prize Laureate, Professor Yunus), the tool enables spectators (at home or on-site), players, partners, broadcasters, tournament organizers…to calculate the carbon footprint of their journeys. User can then choose to support reforestation projects and the planting of a million trees in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region by making a donation.

Certified projects

51% of the Région Sud (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region), the equivalent of 1.6 million hectares or 3.9 million acres, is covered in forest. Being an important carbon sink, this forest land is a valuable asset that has to cope with ever more frequent climatic events, such as droughts and forest fires. To protect this biodiversity, the Région Sud is launching an ambitious Climate Plan, which includes the “1 million trees” project whose aim is to regenerate and/or plant 1 million trees in the region by 2021. 40% funded by the region itself, these projects will have a positive impact on the environment and your donations will help bring them to fruition.

In order to increase the surface area of the forest and regenerate any damaged areas, the Roland-Garros carbon calculator (also above) is supporting six certified – or in the process of being certified – low-carbon projects approved by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition. Thanks to the financial donations made, more than 15,000 metric tonnes of CO2 will be sequestered  per 130 ha (321 acres). As proof of its commitment, for every donation made, the FFT pledges to donate the same amount, up to a total of €10,000.

Let’s take a look at the certified – or in the process of being certified – low-carbon projects approved by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.

1/ Planting trees in the Belvédère communal forest (06)

Commune: Belvédère / Department: Alpes-Maritimes / Altitude: 1,400m / Surface area: 1 ha / Carbon converted: about 80 T CO2

A storm in March 2015 destroyed part of the Belvédère communal forest, which is located in the countryside outside Nice. None of the trees have grown back and the affected site is clearly visible. The project aims to replant clusters of different varieties of trees (European silver fir, pine, Greek fir and other deciduous varieties). This will have 3 benefits:

• Replanting trees on this steep slope will help protect the ground and reduce the risk of erosion
• It will introduce biodiversity in the forest, thanks to the variety of tree species planted
• It will improve the landscape of this highly exposed mountain face, which is located in a much-visited area of the Nice countryside.

2/ Reforestation on Mont Ventoux in the Toulourenc national forest (84)

Commune: Brantes / Department: Vaucluse / Altitude: 900m / Surface: 7.5 ha / Carbon converted: about 900 T CO2

The Haute-Provence’s most emblematic peak, Mont Ventoux is visited by more than 700,000 people every year. The parcels that are being replanted are located directly underneath the resort of Mont Serein. On the north face of Mont Ventoux, the reforestation project follows on from a sanitation harvest carried out in early 2020 on the forest’s decaying Scots pine population. One plot was identified as suitable for replanting Atlas cedar trees (sourced locally to the Ventoux), a variety that can cope with summer droughts as well as periods of cold and snow.

3/ Planting trees in the Contadour forest massif (04)

Commune: Redortiers / Department: Alpes de Haute-Provence / Altitude: 1,100m / Surface: 100 ha / Carbon converted: about 12 000 T CO2

This site is located in the Luberon – Lure biosphere reserve and has inspired a great many novels by Jean Giono as well as their film adaptations. More specifically, the new “The Man Who Planted Trees” film was inspired by this site. The project came about following a natural event that occurred in November 2019: heavy snowfall destroyed 80% of the area’s population of Scots pine trees. The project involves removing the wood and replanting Atlas cedars, Austrian pines and Corsican pines. This will improve the forest population and its landscape, make age-old farming practices safer, protect the massif from forest fires and preserve its biodiversity.

4/ Adaptive planting in the Eygues national forest (05)

Commune:  Rosans / Department: Hautes-Alpes / Altitude: 1,050m / Surface: 9.6 ha / Carbon converted: about 930 T CO2

This sector in the southern Hautes-Alpes is exposed to climate changes and its forest is suffering from severe decline caused by ever more frequent episodes of drought. To recreate a more durable forest environment, in light of these new conditions, the project plans to plant various types of pine trees that can grow in a drier environment, such as the Aleppo pine (from Provence) and the Salzmann pine, a hardy sub-species of the black pine which is currently in decline. 

5/ Reconstructive planting in the Céüse national forest (05)

Commune: Châteauneuf d’Oze / Department: Hautes-Alpes / Altitude: 1,500m / Surface: 5 ha / Carbon converted: about 430 T CO2

These parcels of woodland, which were decimated by heavy snowfall and winds in 1994, have never managed to regenerate themselves naturally. Because they can cope with the changing climate, black pines are being planted to reinforce the natural regeneration in a handful of plots. The reforestation project will protect the ground in parcels that are on a slope, and will help improve the landscape.

6/ Planting trees in the Labouret national forest (04)

Communes: Verdaches / Department: Alpes de Haute-Provence / Altitude: 1,100m / Surface: 6 ha / Carbon converted: about 600 T CO2

Located near Digne, Labouret forest was the victim of a forest fire back in 2005 and traces of the damage are still very visible in the landscape, as the trees have not managed to naturally regenerate themselves. The project aims to restore the forest ecosystem in the affected parcels by planting pine and cedar trees, which will have a positive impact on the area’s biodiversity and will prevent erosion.