Over the past few decades, the whole world has been going through what can only be described as global decadence, affecting all sectors of life, both public and private. This decadence is front-page news, with its flood of questions, unknowns and revolts. The decadence in question is multifaceted: economic, ecological, political, moral, spiritual and social, to name but a few. Although it may be seen as new today, it's worth noting that some of the wise poets of the 19th century took the time to observe their times and tell us what was to come later. Faced with the planetary decadence of the 21st century, it's imperative to hope for a viable and liveable world, today and tomorrow: revisit the French ecopoetry of the 19th century.