Funding for Forestry Measures

This funding program is aimed at natural and legal persons, as well as their associations, who own agricultural and forestry land in Lower Saxony. It supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and municipal bodies in projects for the sustainable safeguarding and development of forests in the region.

The program supports a range of forestry measures, including the initial afforestation of areas, the conversion to nature-oriented forest management, and the improvement of forestry infrastructure. It covers necessary expenditures but excludes certain costs and projects, such as Douglas fir cultivation in protected areas. The funding aims to cover all project phases from planning to implementation.

The program offers non-repayable grants, generally as co-financing, with the possibility of full financing in exceptional cases. The funding amount varies depending on the measure and type of forest ownership, with minimum grants and specific funding rates defined for various measure areas. The commitment periods are five or ten years.

Applicants must meet certain legal, administrative, and operational conditions, including adherence to forestry principles and ensuring forest ownership. The program is subject to EU state aid rules for the agricultural and forestry sector and sets detailed requirements for project implementation and budgeting to ensure sustainable and appropriate use of the funding.

The application for the program is submitted to the responsible regional office of the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Saxony. Specific forms prescribed by the Ministry must be used and submitted by fixed deadlines. The approving authority decides on the funding within the framework of available budgetary resources, and disbursement is made according to the expenditure reimbursement principle.

This funding program is based on the "Directive on the Granting of Subsidies for the Promotion of Forestry Measures in the State of Lower Saxony" and is subject to a number of relevant European and national laws, as well as administrative guidelines. These legal bases ensure legitimacy and compliance with state aid regulations.