Sylvie Monier: Connecting nature and agriculture
As a woman of conviction and action, Sylvie Monier has dedicated her life to an essential cause: the preservation of biodiversity through agroforestry. As an agroforestry advisor, she replants hedgerows—living pillars of our rural landscapes—essential for soil health, climate regulation, and species protection.
A Key Advocate for Agroforestry in France
Co-founder of AFAC-Agroforesteries (now Réseau Haies), Sylvie has worked tirelessly for over twenty years to reintegrate trees into farming systems. Her commitment took a decisive turn in 2008 when she was awarded by the Yves Rocher Foundation with the Terre des Femmes Award—an honour that brought new visibility to her work and strengthened her mission.
“This award strengthened my mission by making it more visible and nationally supported.”
Planting to Restore
In 2010, her meeting with Jacques Rocher marked the beginning of a new chapter. Together, they shared an ambition: to plant trees on a large scale across France in order to restore landscapes and protect biodiversity. With the support of the Yves Rocher Foundation, a major national planting initiative was launched.
Now President of the Fonds pour l’Arbre, Sylvie continues to support farmers, local authorities, and citizens in tree-planting projects. She carefully selects species suited to the land and campaign for a vision of agriculture in which biodiversity and food production thrive side by side.
“This project is far more than a simple replanting effort: it creates genuine sanctuaries for wildlife and vegetation.”
Through her work, Sylvie upholds a powerful belief: the tree is not a hindrance to agriculture—it is its greatest ally. Trees protect crops, enrich the soil, soothe the landscape, regulate the climate… and rebuild a vital connection between people and nature.
Learn more about
