Reporting on and compensation for damage caused by certain protected species
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Under certain conditions, you can apply for compensation following damage caused by the following protected animal species:
- the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) (hereinafter referred to as the 'beaver');
- the European badger (Meles meles) (hereinafter referred to as the 'badger');
- the rook (Corvus frugilegus), the carrion crow (Corvus corone) and the jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) (hereinafter referred to as 'corvids').
Who is concerned
- Damage caused by beavers
- Damage caused by badgers or corvids
You can apply for compensation if you are:
- a farmer as defined in the law of 2 August 2023 on support for the sustainable development of rural areas;
- a landowner who has suffered damage caused to their forest, fruit trees or trees that are part of an agroforestry system.
Any farmer as defined by the law of 2 August 2023 on support for the sustainable development of rural areas.
Prerequisites
In order to benefit from compensation, the agricultural crops or trees that were damaged must comply with the provisions related to the protection of nature and natural resources.
Deadlines
- Damage caused by beavers
- Damage caused by badgers or corvids
Damage caused to agricultural crops
You must submit your application for compensation as quickly as possible and no later than 15 days after noticing the damage.
An ANF officer must identify a beaver as having caused the damage within 15 days of the application for compensation being submitted.
Damage caused to trees
You must submit your application for compensation within one year of the damage occurring.
An ANF officer must identify a beaver as having caused the damage within a month of the application for compensation being submitted.
You must submit your application for compensation as quickly as possible and no later than 15 days after noticing the damage.
An ANF officer must identify badgers or corvids as having caused the damage within 15 days of the application for compensation being submitted.
How to proceed
Submitting the application
You must submit your application for compensation using the 'Schadensanzeige' (Notification of damage) form (see 'Online services and forms') from the Nature and Forests Agency (ANF).
Assessment of the damage
An ANF officer will conduct the identification of the animal suspected to have caused the damage.
If the identification or evaluation of the damage by an ANF officer is no longer possible within the stated deadline (see under 'Deadlines') as the proof is destroyed, you will not be eligible for compensation.
Compensation
- Damage caused by beavers
- Damage caused by badgers or corvids
Compensation for damage caused to agricultural crops
Compensation can be up to 100% of the damage caused to agricultural crops by a beaver.
On your application, you must:
- specify the nature of the damage; and
- provide an estimate of the surface area damaged as well as a financial evaluation of the damage.
Compensation for damage caused to trees
Compensation can be up to 100% of the damage caused to trees by a beaver if the amount of damage is EUR 250 minimum. The amount of compensation for trees is defined on a case-by-case basis following an assessment carried out by officers of the Agency.
On your application, you must:
- specify the nature of the damage; and
- provide an estimate of the number of trees damaged as well as a financial evaluation of the damage.
Compensation can be up to 100% of the damage caused to agricultural crops by badgers or corvids.
The amount of compensation for agricultural crops is based on the prices as provided for in the Grand Ducal regulation of 17 December 2021 setting the amounts for standard products which serve to determine the economic size of a farm in force at the time of the application for compensation.
On your application, you must:
- specify the nature of the damage; and
- provide an estimate of the surface area damaged as well as a financial evaluation of the damage.
The compensation includes:
- crop loss; and
- the expenses incurred for backfilling and for resowing the damaged crops.
The estimation of the damage takes into account the potential to limit the latter by replanting the damaged crops within the same year.
If damaged land, which gave rise to compensation calculated on the lost crops, is replanted prior to the usual date for harvesting the crops, any damage found in the new crops shall not be compensated.
Compensation cannot be granted if, as a farmer, you have neglected to take precautions which under normal circumstances would have been sufficient to prevent the damage.
Reimbursement of the compensation
If you have received compensation but you did not fulfil the conditions for eligibility, you must repay the amount received to the State.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) Wildlife and Hunting Department
- Address:
- 81, avenue de la Gare L-9233 Diekirch Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 600
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 56 651
- Email address:
- fauna@anf.etat.lu
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
sur le portail de l'environnement
Legal references
-
Loi modifiée du 18 juillet 2018
concernant la protection de la nature et des ressources naturelles
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 30 août 2023
concernant l’indemnisation des dégâts matériels commis par certaines espèces animales protégées et les subventions pour les mesures préventives y relatives.
