The forests of Les Landes — covering 10,000 square kilometers (3,860 square miles) — were created in the 19th century for timber and resin production. In Les Landes, that layered structure does not exist. Les Landes’ forests developed following a 1857 law on the drainage and cultivation of the Landes de Gascogne. More than 90% of the forest area in Les Landes is privately owned, with 75% held by just 20% of landowners. “Otherwise, we risk losing the Landes forest.”