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Forest contract nature conservation program; application for a grant

Voluntary services provided by private and corporate forest owners (including legal entities) as well as organizations responsible for inter-company measures for nature and species conservation in the forest are rewarded.

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For contact details of the responsible authoritiy and local valid information select under "Select location" a location.
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Ämter für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten
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Procedure details

The Forest Contractual Nature Conservation Program (VNP Wald) rewards voluntary services provided by private and corporate forest owners (including legal entities) as well as those responsible for inter-company measures for nature and species conservation in forests. The VNP Forest is thus an important building block for the implementation of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas and the Bavarian Biodiversity Strategy.

The contractual nature conservation program in the forest secures ecologically valuable habitats and populations of endangered species in the forest. Forest owners undertake to manage the areas in accordance with the objectives of nature conservation for five or twelve years.

In particular, medium and coppice forests, beaver habitats, sparse forests and valuable structures such as biotope trees, old wood islands and deadwood (if necessary also after natural disturbance events such as windthrow) or a complete renunciation of use are promoted.

The funding compensates for the loss of income or additional costs.

Funding is possible if the measure meets the nature conservation objective and the area is located in the following areas:

  • Area of the European Network Natura 2000
  • Area of the Bavarian biotope network (BayernNetzNatur)
  • Protected area defined by nature conservation law (e.g. nature reserve, landscape conservation area, nature park)
  • legally protected biotope according to § 30 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act or Art. 23 of the Bavarian Nature Conservation Act
  • Area on which a species support project is carried out
  • Habitat of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive (FFH Directive) outside a Natura 2000 site
  • Beaver habitat
  • Stock riparian forest

The first step for interested forest owners is to contact the local nature conservation authority or the local office for food, agriculture and forestry. They will receive information there on which subsidies are possible and support in preparing the application documents.

Applications can be submitted to the local Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry during a fixed annual period (usually from November to May).

The application must be submitted before the start of the measure.
Applications must generally be submitted in November of the previous year by May 31 of the current year.

Status: 17.01.2025
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz
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