1,300 Hectares, 1 Million Trees Planted: An XXL Forest is Born 25 km from Paris
Paris, February 9, 2026 – An ambitious ecological project of rare scale is taking shape just 25 kilometers from Paris. The Maubuisson Forest, currently under creation in the Val-d’Oise and Oise departments, will eventually span over 1,300 hectares. This unprecedented surface area is poised to become the largest forest created in France in more than four centuries, since the time of Colbert’s forestry projects.
One Million Trees on Former Agricultural and Industrial Lands
Since 2020, nearly 800,000 trees have already been planted, with a clear objective of reaching one million. Close to 30 different species have been carefully selected to create a forest more resilient to climate change. These include oaks, hornbeams, maples, lindens, birches, whitebeams, service trees, dog roses, cedars of Lebanon, and even more southern essences.
The challenge has been significant. The site, long fragmented, comprises degraded and sometimes polluted soils, a legacy of former agricultural and industrial activities. Extensive work has been carried out to depollute, restore, and bring these lands back to life.
A Forest Designed for Longevity and Biodiversity
The Maubuisson Forest is not merely a reforestation project; it has been conceived as a complete ecosystem. It incorporates wooded areas, clearings, ecological corridors, and gentle pathways. The overarching goal is to recreate biodiversity, store carbon, combat urban heat islands, all while allowing nature to take its course over time.
Deployed across seven communes in the Val-d’Oise, this immense green lung has cost approximately 84 million euros. Funding has been provided by the communes, the department, and the region. The forest’s name pays homage to the Maubuisson estate, founded by Blanche of Castile in 1236.
A Future Space Open to the Public
In due course, the forest will be accessible to the public, featuring pedestrian routes and hosting cultural and educational events. It is already part of certain programs, such as the ‘Nuits des Forêts’ (Nights of the Forests), which offer visitors the opportunity to discover these evolving landscapes both day and night.
A New Green Frontier at the Gates of the Capital
At a time when the Parisian region critically lacks continuous natural spaces, the Maubuisson Forest stands out as a structuring project-ecological, scenic, and symbolic. This is a forest that does not emerge suddenly but grows slowly, tree by tree, just a few kilometers from the périphérique. The last modification to the official project information was on February 7, 2026.
Source: pariszigzag.fr
