Subsidy for the provision of forestry ecosystem services ('Klimabonus Bësch')
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The 'Klimabonus Bësch' subsidy for the provision of forestry ecosystem services was introduced as part of the policy on:
- adapting to the effects of climate change;
- enhancing the resilience of forest ecosystems.
The subsidy was introduced to support private forest owners to help them promote measures designed to mitigate the effects of climate change by implementing nature-based forestry principles.
The ultimate goal is to preserve the many benefits to society afforded by forest ecosystems, namely:
- soil protection;
- water and air filtration;
- the preservation of biodiversity and an environment conducive to recreational activities and ecotourism;
- carbon dioxide capture;
- carbon storage;
- the provision of natural products.
Who is concerned
Private owners of forests in Luxembourg that are managed according to nature-based forestry principles.
Eligible forests
To be eligible for the subsidy, forests must satisfy all of the following criteria:
- they must harbour protected forest biotopes or forest habitats of community interest, as provided for in the Grand Ducal regulation of 1 August 2018 on protected biotopes, habitats of community interest, and habitats harbouring species of community interest, whose conservation status has been assessed as 'not-favourable', and stipulating measures for their reduction, destruction and degeneration;
- they must comprise at least one undivided parcel of eligible forest of at least 0.3 hectares in size;
- they must be located in a green zone.
Non-eligible forests
The following are not eligible for the subsidy: forests where works and specific management practises have been imposed by the Minister with the portfolio for Environmental Affairs as part of an authorisation requiring the fulfilment of certain conditions during the validity of the authorisation.
Prerequisites
For forest stands to be considered eligible:
- at least 50% of the basal area of each hectare must be composed of indigenous deciduous trees; and
- no forestry measures must have been implemented that reduce the diversity of naturally growing indigenous trees.
In forest stands:
- natural regeneration should be preferred to planting;
- indigenous species and a mix of trees should be preferred for regeneration;
- the removal of tree biotopes in stands with fewer than 2 trees per hectare is prohibited;
- the removal of standing or fallen dead trees with a diameter of over 40 cm, from stands with less than one tree per hectare, is prohibited;
- whole tree harvesting (i.e. roots, trunk and canopy) and the shredding of slash are prohibited;
- slash with a diameter of less than 7 cm must be left on the ground;
- the operation of logging machinery outside logging trails should be avoided;
- felling techniques and machinery should be adapted so as to minimise damage to stands and soil;
- the use of biodegradable oils for machinery is recommended, insofar as technically possible.
Measures that result in the reduction, destruction or deterioration of protected biotopes or rocky, wetland or aquatic habitats of community interest in the forest system are prohibited.
Deadlines
In your application for the subsidy, you will be required to undertake to comply with the conditions specified under 'Prerequisites' for a period of 10 consecutive years.
The undertaking in question will:
- commence on 1 January of the year following that in which the subsidy was approved; and
- will expire on 31 December of the 10th year.
How to proceed
Submitting the application
Applications for the 'Klimabonus Bësch' subsidy must be completed, dated and signed, and sent by post to the Director of the Nature and Forest Agency (Administration de la nature et des forêts).
Supporting documents
You must also enclose the following documents with your application:
- details on the surfaces that the aid is being applied for (to be specified in the table in the application form under the heading 'Annex');
- an extract from the cadastral map for the plots concerned;
- an extract from the topographical map (scale 1:10,000), showing the forested property or properties concerned;
- a bank account identification document.
Decision
Applications will be checked and reviewed by the Nature and Forest Agency. If necessary, it will seek the assistance of experts. The Minister with the portfolio for Environmental Affairs will render their decision as quickly as possible.
Amount of the subsidy
The amount of the subsidy will be established based on the total surface area of the eligible property and in light of the following:
- geo-referenced data held by the Nature and Forest Agency; and
- the information provided in your application.
The subsidy will be paid once a year.
If the property is held in co-ownership, the subsidy will be paid to the person specified in the application.
Total surface area of eligible property less than or equal to 50 hectares
The standard annual amount is EUR 150 per hectare.
In addition to the standard amount, a supplement in the amount of EUR 100 per hectare per annum will be granted for eligible properties located in a:
- designated protected zone of community interest, also known as a Natura 2000 zone; or
- protected zone of natural interest declared as such by way of a Grand Ducal regulation; or
- protected zone harbouring water intended for human consumption.
Total surface area of eligible property greater than 50 hectares and less than or equal to à 100 hectares
The annual amount of the subsidy will be 50% of the standard amount and 50% of the supplement.
In that case, the standard amount will be EUR 75 per hectare per annum, and the supplement EUR 50 per hectare per annum.
Total surface area greater than 100 hectares
The annual amount of the subsidy will be 25% of the standard amount and 25% of the supplement.
In that case, the standard amount will be EUR 37.50 per hectare per annum, and the supplement EUR 25 per hectare per annum.
Non-aggregation
The subsidy may not be combined with the 'Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss' subsidy introduced by way of the Grand Ducal regulation of 6 March 2025 establishing a subsidy for the provision of ecosystem services in wetlands and sensitive, species-rich grasslands.
Obligations
Revocation of the undertaking
If you wish to revoke an undertaking with respect to part or all of the forested property for which the subsidy was granted, you must do so by registered letter.
Nevertheless, you must continue to comply with the conditions until the undertaking expires (10 years), failing which you will be required to refund the subsidy.
Sale
If you wish to sell a forested property for which a subsidy has been granted, you must provide prior notification by registered letter to:
- the Nature and Forest Agency; and
- the buyer, as to the existence of the undertaking.
For any forested property sold during the term of the undertaking, you will be required to refund the entire amount received during that period, unless the buyer agrees to honour the undertaking until it expires.
Death
In the event of death, the undertaking will terminate automatically on the day of the death, unless the heirs agree to honour the undertaking until it expires.
Sanctions
The 'Klimabonus Bësch' subsidy will not be granted, or will have to be refunded, if, after being sent a formal demand to comply, you are found to be in breach of:
- the conditions for the granting of the subsidy; or
- the stipulations of the Grand Ducal regulation on protected zones.
Non-compliance
For the first instance of non-compliance, you will be required to refund the amounts received during the term of the undertaking for the forested property for which the subsidy was granted and where the instance of non-compliance was observed.
In the event of a subsequent instance of non-compliance, the undertaking will be terminated automatically. In that case, you will be required to refund the amounts received during the term of the undertaking for all forested properties for which the subsidy was granted.
You will also be barred from receiving the 'Klimabonus Bësch' subsidy again in the future.
Renewal of the subsidy
To renew an undertaking that has expired, you will need to submit a new application for the 'Klimabonus Bësch' subsidy.
Appeals
If the subsidy is denied, you may lodge an administrative appeal against the decision rendered by the Minister with the portfolio for Environmental Affairs within 3 months of the date of notification of the decision.
If the appeal is unsuccessful, you may also lodge an appeal with the Ombudsman.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Nature and Forest Agency (ANF)
- Address:
- 81, avenue de la Gare L-9233 Diekirch Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 600
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 56 651
- Email address:
- anf.direction@anf.etat.lu
- Email address:
- info@anf.etat.lu
- Website:
- http://www.environnement.public.lu/
-
Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) Centre-East district
- Address:
-
81, avenue de la Gare
L-9233
Diekirch
B.P. 30, L-9201 Diekirch
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 757
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 56 759
- Email address:
- anf.centre-est@anf.etat.lu
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Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) Centre-West district
- Address:
- 1, rue du Village L-7473 Schoenfels
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 704
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 56 699
- Email address:
- anf.centre-ouest@anf.etat.lu
-
Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) East district
- Address:
-
6, rue de la Gare
L-6731
Grevenmacher
B.P. 42, L-6701 Grevenmacher
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 675
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 56 681
- Email address:
- anf.est@anf.etat.lu
-
Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) North district
- Address:
-
27, rue du Château
L-9516
Wiltz
B.P. 50, L-9501 Wiltz
- Phone:
- (+352) 95 81 64 1
- Fax:
- (+352) 95 00 69
- Email address:
- anf.nord@anf.etat.lu
-
Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) South district
- Address:
-
40, rue de la Gare
L-3377
Leudelange
B.P. 10, L-3205 Leudelange
- Phone:
- (+352) 45 80 83 1
- Fax:
- (+352) 45 80 83 83
- Email address:
- anf.sud@anf.etat.lu
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Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) Permit Department
- Address:
- 3, rue Neihaischen L-2633 Senningerberg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 888
- Email address:
- service.autorisations@anf.etat.lu
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Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) Nature Department (Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss)
- Address:
- 81, avenue de la Gare L-9233 Diekirch
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 600
- Email address:
- kbmw@anf.etat.lu
- Website:
- http://www.emwelt.lu/
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Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity
- Address:
-
4, place de l'Europe
L-1499
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2918 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 86 824
- Fax:
- (+352) 40 04 10
- Email address:
- info@environnement.public.lu
- Website:
- https://mecb.gouvernement.lu/en.html
-
Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity Department of the Environment
- Address:
- 4, place de l'Europe L-1499 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 86 811
- Fax:
- (+352) 40 04 10
-
Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity Procedures and Planning Department
- Address:
- 4, place de l'Europe L-1499 Luxembourg
- Email address:
- eie@mev.etat.lu
2 of 3 bodies shown
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
le portail de l'environnement
Legal references
-
Règlement (UE) 2018/1999 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 11 décembre 2018
sur la gouvernance de l’union de l’énergie et de l’action pour le climat
-
Loi modifiée du 19 décembre 2008
relative à l'eau
-
Loi modifiée du 18 juillet 2018
concernant la protection de la nature et des ressources naturelles
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 1er août 2018
établissant les biotopes protégés, les habitats d’intérêt communautaire et les habitats des espèces d’intérêt communautaire pour lesquelles l’état de conservation a été évalué non favorable, et précisant les mesures de réduction, de destruction ou de détérioration y relatives
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 16 avril 2021
instituant une prime pour la fourniture de services écosystémiques en milieu forestier.
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 6 mars 2025
modifiant le règlement grand-ducal du 16 avril 2021 instituant une prime pour la fourniture de services écosystémiques en milieu forestier
