Forêt de Bouconne
Encyclopedia
The Forêt de Bouconne is located in southwest France
, on the border of the departments of Gers
and Haute-Garonne
about thirty kilometres west of Toulouse
. The forest has an area of 27 km² (10.4 sq mi) and is managed primarily by the National Forests Office (2Okm²). It also includes privately owned woods and woods belonging to the local communes
of L'Isle-Jourdain
, Lévignac-sur-Save
, Montaigut-sur-Save
. It is the only large forest near Toulouse. It hosts a leisure centre and outdoor recreation areas.
The Forêt de Bouconne is traversed by many paths used by walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.
., still-existing fragments of the once much larger forest.
and Sweet Chestnut
. Among the other trees present are Pedunculate Oak, Cork Oak, Alder
, Hornbeam
, Lime
, Service Tree, Ash, Nordmann Fir, Red Oak and Scots Pine
.
It is home to wild Boar and Roe Deer
. Other smaller mammal species are present such as the genet
, fox
and badger
. The Short-toed Eagle
hunts on its periphery.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on the border of the departments of Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
and Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Garonne river. Its main city is Toulouse.-History:Haute-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc.The...
about thirty kilometres west of Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
. The forest has an area of 27 km² (10.4 sq mi) and is managed primarily by the National Forests Office (2Okm²). It also includes privately owned woods and woods belonging to the local communes
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of L'Isle-Jourdain
L'Isle-Jourdain, Gers
L'Isle-Jourdain is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:Its inhabitants are called Lislois.-References:*...
, Lévignac-sur-Save
Lévignac
Lévignac, also known as Lévignac-sur-Save, is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-Transportation:...
, Montaigut-sur-Save
Montaigut-sur-Save
Montaigut-sur-Save is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. It is the only large forest near Toulouse. It hosts a leisure centre and outdoor recreation areas.
The Forêt de Bouconne is traversed by many paths used by walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.
History
Up until the Middle Ages, the forest extended much further than its present boundaries. To the south it reached the Forêt de Fabas and the Forêt de Mauboussin near EsparronEsparron, Haute-Garonne
Esparron is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
., still-existing fragments of the once much larger forest.
Fauna and flora
The dominant tree species in the forest are Sessile Oak, PinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and Sweet Chestnut
Sweet Chestnut
Castanea sativa is a species of the flowering plant family Fagaceae, the tree and its edible seeds are referred to by several common names such Sweet Chestnut or Marron. Originally native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it is now widely dispersed throughout Europe and parts of Asia, such as...
. Among the other trees present are Pedunculate Oak, Cork Oak, Alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
, Hornbeam
Hornbeam
Hornbeams are relatively small hardwood trees in the genus Carpinus . Though some botanists grouped them with the hazels and hop-hornbeams in a segregate family, Corylaceae, modern botanists place the hornbeams in the birch subfamily Coryloideae...
, Lime
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
, Service Tree, Ash, Nordmann Fir, Red Oak and Scots Pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
.
It is home to wild Boar and Roe Deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
. Other smaller mammal species are present such as the genet
Genet (animal)
Genets are Old World mammals from the order Carnivora, family Viverridae, related to civets and linsangs. All species are contained within the genus Genetta, although the Aquatic Genet is sometimes housed in its own genus Osbornictis....
, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
and badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
. The Short-toed Eagle
Short-toed Eagle
The Short-toed Snake Eagle also known as Short-toed Eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.-Range and habitat:...
hunts on its periphery.