Commission Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006 (repealed)Show full title

Article 30 U.K.

1. For the purpose of Article 42(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, the definitions in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article shall apply, subject to exceptions to be duly justified in the rural development programmes.

2. ‘Forest’ means land spanning more than 0,5 hectare with trees higher than 5 metres and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach those thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban land use.

Areas under reforestation that have not yet reached but are expected to reach a canopy cover of 10 percent and a tree height of 5 metres are included, as are temporarily unstocked areas, resulting from human intervention or natural causes, which are expected to regenerate.

Forests include areas with bamboo and palms provided that height and canopy cover criteria are met.

Forests include forest roads, firebreaks and other small open areas, forests in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas, such as those of specific scientific, historical, cultural or spiritual interest.

Forests include windbreaks, shelterbelts and corridors of trees with an area of more than 0,5 hectare and width of more than 20 metres.

Forests include plantations primarily for forestry protection purposes, such as rubber-wood plantations and cork oak stands. Tree stands in agricultural production systems, such as those in fruit plantations, and agri-forestry systems are excluded from the definition of ‘forests’. Trees in urban parks and gardens are also excluded from that definition.

3. ‘Wooded areas’ means land not classified as ‘forest’, spanning more than 0,5 hectare, with trees higher than 5 metres and a canopy cover of 5-10 percent, or trees able to reach those thresholds in situ, or with a combined cover of shrubs, bushes and trees above 10 percent. The term does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban use.

4. The following forests and wooded areas shall be excluded from the scope of the first sentence of Article 42(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005:

(a) forest and other wooded land owned by central or regional governments, or by government-owned corporations;

(b) forest and other wooded land owned by the Crown;

(c) forests owned by legal persons at least 50 % of whose capital is held by one of the institutions referred to in points (a) and (b).