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The dune forests of Western France are artificial creations whose origin dates back to the 19th century. Set in a context of increasingly rapid agricultural transformation and land enhancement, afforestation seemed to offer a solution that could transform unstable areas that were deemed of no great value. At that point, forests became resources of immense value, giving rise to the greatest investment and radically transforming the dune landscape. Today the situation is different because the dune forests are aging and expectations are no longer the same. Coastal risks have become evident and some forests face the threat of the sea owing to their position on the water's edge. The only way for forests to be managed effectively is for them to be reconfigured into dune ecosystems.