Question 38004 — woods and forests

Summary

Ms. Bénédicte Taurine draws the attention of the Minister of Ecological Transition to the illegal felling of trees occurring in Ariège and Aude. Logging companies have taken valuable specimens without authorization with a clear disregard for the environment and the heritage value of these trees. In Perles-et-Castelet, a Spanish company authorized to carry out felling on a plot took the initiative of extending its activity on municipal and private land. More than 400 century-old fir and oak trees were cut down, access paths and stone walls were also damaged. Fifteen complaints were filed for theft in a meeting with damage to the Foix public prosecutor's office, the prosecutor declared that he was personally following the case and the municipality is awaiting the appointment of a forestry expert to assess the damage. As such, Ms. MP warns of the reduction in human and financial resources of the National Forestry Office (ONF), which is responsible for the protection of state forests. Indeed, the State has engaged in reforms which reduce this essential public service. Thus, in 35 years, the ONF has lost more than 35% of its workforce, just as over a period of 50 years, one position in two will not be replaced. The public establishment has an industrial character and commercial and its operation is similar to that of a business. However, the forest is public heritage and must as such be administered with a view to preserving and protecting the environment. Furthermore, in times of climate change, the public utility of the ONF cannot be denied. EPIC officers are sworn and have police powers. They make it possible to apply the law and prevent illegal slaughter practices. Reducing the number of ONF agents means renouncing full application of the law, which is unacceptable. The MP calls for an end to the dismantling of the ONF. On the other hand, local elected officials who are victims of a veritable “wood mafia” are exasperated by the development of this practice which, in addition to the moral damage, requires them to advance repair costs which could have been avoided. for example, thanks to a more vigorous presence of the ONF in the territory. It also questions the various measures it intends to take to counter these practices, as well as the assistance to be provided to municipalities and owners to enable them to repair the damage suffered and how it intends to revalorize the ONF by providing it with the necessary means to respond to environmental and territorial challenges.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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