La coutume hors-la-loi ? La forêt dans les recueils des usages locaux à caractère agricole de 1855 à nos jours

In the mid 19th century, as the Rural code was not yet achieved, the French authorities incited to gather the local uses in each canton. Based on a corpus of 115 compendiums, this article highlights that wood, hedges and forests were primary elements for everyday life of rural and urban communities. Local uses are recognised as part of positive right. The judge may invoke it to compensate the lacks and ambiguities of the Civil code, and to solve a disagreement. Local uses are able to promote the durability of natural resources. For instance, regular pruning is necessary to reinforce the biodiversity of insects and to maintain cultural landscapes such as hedged farmlands that are so positively perceived by visitors.