Despite the efforts made in recent decades to protect wildlife, the loss of biodiversity in Europe remains alarming. What can be done to protect it? While some advocate "letting nature take its course", the work of numerous ecologists and researchers runs counter to preconceived ideas: according to them, the protection of endangered species often requires, on the contrary, human intervention - provided that it is reasoned and respectful of the environment. Leaving land uncultivated can be counter-productive, as in the case of the Chizé forest in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, where the cessation of tree-cutting has driven away several species of snake that previously thrived there.