The intrinsic vegetation association of a sector of the Fontainebleau forest free of human interference : the Hauteurs de la Solle biological reserve

The biological reserve of Les hauteurs de la Solle is but one of the geomorphological units of the Fontainebleau Forest characterized by numerous rocky and sandy forested slopes. However, the uniqueness of this reserve comes from the fact that it did not suffer during the past two centuries from any forest fire or anthropic disturbance. As a result the landscape is varied, and made up of four phytosociological units: 1, a species poor heath, a remnant of that existing three or four thousand years ago; 2, some birch stands with an understorey of forest vegetation devoid of characteristic specie