The state forest of Phalempin
The national forest of Phalempin is of a modest size (670 hectares) and is located on the former country of Carembault in the north of France between Lille and the mining basin of Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
History
This forest has long been one of the naturalistic hotspots in the North of France.
Thus in 1851, the entomologist and tree specialist J. Macquart wrote
“I often went to visit the small forest of Phalempin near Lille and the battlefield of Mons-en-Pevèle. It is a precious site for entomologists and which makes the plain of Lille forgive its poverty in this regard. Small beetles abound there especially, and rare species are quite
In particular until after the Second World War, this forest, however intensively exploited for several centuries, was particularly rich in Ichneumonidae. It seems that its crossing by the A1 Motorway (without an eco-pipeline or compensatory measure) and the general pollution of the agricultural environment by pesticides have contributed to a sharp decline in biodiversity.
Environnement
Although locally overcrowded due to the proximity of the Lille area and the mining basin, this forest is an important element of the regional and national green network. In the future, it could be one of the “bridges” or “ford” between the green network of the Lille metropolis and that of the nearby Mining Basin for forest and edge species.