Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004Show full title

[F1 [X1 PART III.12.T U.K. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SHEET ON AIDS FOR THE FORESTRY SECTOR

This form must be used for the notification of any State aid measure to support forestry covered by Chapter VII of the Community Guidelines on State aid in the agriculture and forestry sector (1) .

1. Objective of the measure U.K.

1.1. Does the measure contribute to maintaining, restoring or improving ecological, protective and recreational functions of forests, biodiversity and a healthy forest ecosystem or does it concern the eligible costs mentioned in points 175 to 181 in Chapter VII of the Guidelines? U.K.

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yes



no

If not, please note that only measures concerning at least one of these objectives or eligible costs can be approved under this Chapter.

2. Eligibility criteria U.K.

2.1. Does the measure exclude aid to forest based industries or for commercially viable extraction of timber, transportation of timber or for the processing of wood or other forestry resources into products or for energy generation? U.K.

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yes



no

If not, please note that aid for the above purposes is excluded from the scope of this Chapter. Please refer to other State aid rules for such aid.

3. Type of aid U.K.

3.1. Does the measure include aid for planting, felling, thinning and pruning of trees and other vegetation (point VII.C. a)? U.K.

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yes



no

If yes, please indicate whether the eligible costs concern:

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planting, felling and pruning in general;

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removal of fallen trees;

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restoring forests damaged by air pollution, animals, storms, floods, fire or similar events;

If one of the above apply, please describe the measures and confirm that the primary objective of the measure is to maintain and restore forest ecosystem and biodiversity or the traditional landscape and that no aid is granted for felling whose primary purpose is commercially viable extraction of timber or for restocking where the felled trees are replaced by equivalent ones:

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afforestation to increase forest cover;

Please describe the environmental reasons justifying the afforestation to increase forest cover and confirm that no aid will be granted for afforestation with species cultivated in the short term:

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afforestation to promote biodiversity;

Please describe the measure and indicate the areas concerned:

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afforestation to create wooded areas for recreational purposes;

Are the above wooded areas accessible to the public at no cost for recreational purposes? If not, is access restricted to protect sensitive areas?

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afforestation to combat erosion and desertification or to promote a comparable protective function of the forest;

Please describe the measures specifying theareas concerned, the protective function envisaged, tree species to be planted and any accompanying and maintenance measures to be undertaken:

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other (please explain).

3.2. Does the measure include aid for maintaining and improving soil quality in forests and/or ensuring balanced and healthy tree growth (point VII.C. b)? U.K.



yes



no

If yes, please indicate whether the eligible costs concern:

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fertilisation;

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other soil treatments;

Please specify the type of fertilisation and/or other soil treatment

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reduction of excessive vegetation density;

.

ensuring sufficient water retention and proper drainage.

Please confirm that the above measures will not reduce biodiversity, cause nutrient leaching or adversely affect natural water ecosystems or water protection zones and describe how this will be controlled in practice:

3.3. Does the measure include aid for preventing, eradicating and treating pests, pest damage and tree diseases or preventing and treating damage done by animals or targeted measures to prevent forest fires (point VII.C. c)? U.K.



yes



no

If yes, please indicate whether the eligible costs concern:

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prevention and treatment of pests and tree diseases and pest damage or prevention and treatment of damage done by animals;

Please indicate the pests and diseases or animals in question:

Please describe the prevention and treatment methods and mention any necessary products, appliances and materials. Are biological and mechanical prevention and treatment methods preferred when granting aid? If not, please demonstrate that they are not sufficient to fight the disease or pest in question:

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targeted measures to prevent forest fires.

Please describe the measures:

Is aid granted to compensate for the value of stock destroyed by animals or on the order of the authorities to fight the disease or pest in question?

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yes



no

Please describe how the value of stock will be calculated and confirm that the compensation will be limited to the value thus determined:

3.4. Does the measure include aid for the restoration and maintenance of natural pathways, landscape elements and features and the natural habitat for animals (point VII.C. d)? U.K.



yes



no

If yes, please describe the measures:

3.5. Does the measure include aid for constructing, improving and maintaining forest roads and/or visitors' infrastructures (point VII.C.e)? U.K.



yes



no

If yes, please describe the measures:

Are the forests and infrastructures used for recreation open to the public at no cost for recreational purposes?

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yes



no

If not, is access restricted to protect sensitive areas or to ensure the proper and safe use of the infrastructures? Please describe the restrictions and the reasons for imposing them:

3.6. Does the measure include aid for the costs of information materials and activities (point VII.C.f)? U.K.

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yes

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no

If yes, please describe the measures and confirm that the supported actions and materials disseminate general information concerning forests and do not contain references to named products or producers or promote domestic products:

3.7. Does the measure include aid for the costs of purchase of forestry land for nature protection purposes (point VII.C.g)? U.K.

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yes



no

If yes, please describe in detail the nature protection use of the forestry land in question and confirm that this land is entirely and permanently secured for nature protection by means of a statutory or contractual obligation:

3.8. Does the measure include aid for the costs of afforestation of agricultural or non-agricultural land, establishment of agro forestry systems on agricultural land, Natura 2000 payments, forest-environment payments, restoring forestry potential and introducing prevention actions as well as non productive investments, pursuant to Articles 43 to 49 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (2) or any replacing legislation? U.K.



yes



no

If yes please demonstrate that the measure fulfils the conditions laid down in Articles 43-49 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 or any replacing legislation:

3.9. Does the measure include aid for the additional costs and income foregone due to the use of environmentally friendly forest technology? U.K.

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yes



no

If yes, please describe in detail the technology used and confirm that it goes beyond the relevant mandatory requirements:

Is the compensation paid on the basis of a voluntary commitment that the forest owner has entered and that satisfies the conditions of Article 47 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 or any replacing legislation?



yes



no

If not, please note that the aid cannot be authorized under Chapter VII of the Guidelines. If yes, describe the commitments:

3.10. Does the measure include aid for the costs of purchase of forestry land (other than forestry land for environmental protection purposes, see point 3.7 above)? U.K.



yes



no

If yes, please describe the measure and indicate the aid intensity:

3.11. Does the measure include aid for the costs of training, consultancy services, such as, establishment of business plans or forestry management plans, feasibility studies, as well as participation in competitions, exhibitions and fairs? U.K.

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yes



no

If yes please demonstrate that the measure fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 15 of the Exemption Regulation:

3.12. Does the measure include aid for the setting up of forestry associations? U.K.



yes



no

If yes please demonstrate that the measure fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 9 of the Exemption Regulation:

3.13. Does the measure include aid in favour of vulgarisation of new techniques, such as reasonable small scale pilot projects or demonstration projects? U.K.



yes



no

If yes please describe the measures and demonstrate that they fulfil the conditions set out in point 107 of the Guidelines:

4. Amount of aid U.K.

4.1. Is the aid for measures indicated under points 3.1 to 3.7 limited to 100 % of the eligible costs and overcompensation excluded? U.K.

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yes



no

Please describe how the exclusion of overcompensation will be controlled:

4.2. Is the aid for measures indicated under point 3.8 limited to the maximum intensity or amount laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 or any replacing legislation? U.K.

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yes



no

Are the mesures indicated under point 3.8 being co-financed under Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 or any replacing legislation or is such co-financing envisaged or possible?



yes



no

If yes, please describe how any double funding leading to overcompensation will excluded:

4.3. Can the compensation for measures indicated under point 3.9 be granted above the maximum aid rate for aid under Article 47 fixed in the Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, but in no case more than the demonstrated additional costs and income foregone? U.K.



yes



no

In both cases, please indicate the aid amount and describe how it is calculated. If yes, please describe the specific circumstances and the effect of the measure to the environment and present calculations showing that the additional amounts of aid are limited to the demonstrated additional costs and/or income foregone:

4.4. Is the aid for the measures indicated under point 3.10 is limited to the maximum aid intensity laid down in Article 4 of the Exemption Regulation for the purchase of agricultural land? U.K.



yes



no

Please describe how the exclusion of overcompensation will be controlled:

4.5. Is the aid for measures indicated under points 3.11 to 3.13 limited to the maximum aid intensity laid down in the applicable rules of the Exemption Regulation or the Guidelines? U.K.



yes



no

Please describe how the exclusion of overcompensation will be controlled:] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Inserted by Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1935/2006 of 20 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (Official Journal of the European Union L 407 of 30 December 2006).

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1935/2006 of 20 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty.

(1)

[F1 [X1 OJ C 319, 27.12.2006, p. 1 .] ]

(2)

[F1 [X1 Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) ( OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1 .)] ]

Editorial Information

X1 Inserted by Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1935/2006 of 20 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (Official Journal of the European Union L 407 of 30 December 2006).

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1935/2006 of 20 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty.