On November 9, 2026, at Notre-Dame de Paris, Thomas Buberl, CEO of AXA and Chairman of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, and Marie Lavandier, President of the Monuments Nationaux, signed an unprecedented three-year partnership aimed at protecting France’s national monuments’ natural heritage.
Monuments Nationaux manages a unique collection of monuments open to the public. Its 83 parks, gardens and wooded estates span nearly 3,300 hectares, and include 9 “Remarkable Gardens” and 15 Natura 2000 sites. Together, these monuments and landscapes form a shared asset that brings vitality to local communities and strengthens social bonds.
The AXA Foundation supports the national reforestation program, which combines the protection of natural heritage, the adaptation of landscapes to climate change, monitoring of biodiversity, and professional integration.
A Broader Vision of Heritage to Be Protected
Recurring droughts, floods, and the emergence of new diseases are putting increasing pressure on landscapes that have been shaped over centuries.
Resilience cannot be built in an emergency; it must be nurtured over time. Valuing green heritage helps these landscapes adapt to the challenges of climate change.
© Eric Sander_2014 
© Yann Morel 
© Yann Monel 
© David Bordes 
Helping this natural heritage adapt to climate change means taking action today to better protect tomorrow. It also means preserving the places that rejuvenate us and bring us together.
Pedro Costinha-Névoa General Secretary of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress and Heading the Arts, Culture and Heritage Pillar
This partnership expands AXA’s role as an insurer and reaffirms the AXA Foundation’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Monitoring tools will track changes in biodiversity over time, assess how trees adapt, and measure the carbon impact of the plantations.
By 2030, nearly 10,000 trees will be replanted across 13 historic sites across France. The program will begin in November 2026 at three estates: Château de La Motte-Tilly, Saint-Cloud and Rambouillet. Tree species will be selected for their greater resistance to climate-related stresses and certain diseases. All replanting will respect the historic layout of each landscape.
Beyond their historical and scenic value, trees play an essential environmental role. They serve as a refuge for biodiversity, store carbon, and provide cooling shade. In doing so, they help keep historic sites alive for future generations. Supporting their preservation means protecting both a legacy and a resource for the future.
The program also aims to establish a strong local presence through job placement initiatives related to the maintenance of parks and green spaces. The program will support the transmission of historic garden management techniques and help develop a sustainable horticultural sector, giving preference to French nurseries.
© Yann Monel A Responsibility: Passing on our Heritage to Future Generations
This partnership adds a third dimension to the AXA Foundation’s work in supporting heritage. We support architectural heritage through the World Monuments Fund (WMF), and the transmission of heritage craft trades through the creation of an Apprenticeship training center (CFA) with the Manufactures nationales (Sèvres & Mobilier national). We are now extending our support to the landscapes surrounding historic sites.
Culture and nature are deeply intertwined: monuments tell our story, and the trees around them help shape their identity and safeguard their future.
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