Abstract
The Goult Woods are located in the stated-owned Ecouves forest in Normandy. The history of this forest has deeply marked the landscapes of this area. The evolution of these landscapes can be investigated using the concepts and methods of historical biogeography and landscape ecology. The forest was overexploited during the 18th and 19th centuries to satisfy the huge needs of the local industries (forges and glass manufacturing) and has been planted with coniferous trees since the middle of the 19th century. The species used for reforestation were first indigenous, e.g. the Scots Pine, and subsequently exotic, like the Douglas Fir, the Japanese Larch and the Sitka Spruce. Softwood establishment on this massive scale had harmful consequences on the remarkable forest wetlands that pepper the Goult Woods. Efforts are currently being undertaken to prevent these damaged environments from disappearing using means whose long-term effectiveness is debatable. This raises the question of the role of the natural dynamic processes of vegetation in forest management.