FEADER 73.06 — Infrastructure for forest fire defence, forest risk prevention, timber mobilisation and the enhancement of forests

FEADER 73.06 — Infrastructure for forest fire defence, forest risk prevention, timber mobilisation and the enhancement of forests in their multifunctional dimension

References: FEADER Guadeloupe regional strategic plan V6, applicable since 27 April 2026; FEADER 73.06 Notice V1 entered into force on 18 December 2025. Managing authority: Région Guadeloupe.

1. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE

The 73.06 intervention supports the creation and improvement of private forest access roads needed for sustainable forest management. This infrastructure is primarily used to facilitate the mobilisation and valorisation of timber, but also contributes to forest risk prevention and can improve public access to forest areas for certain uses, in particular leisure and hiking.

Regional objectives include improving the competitiveness of the timber industry, mobilising forest resources, protecting forests and their biodiversity, and renewing forests to combine climate change adaptation and mitigation.

2. FINANCIAL PARAMETERS

FEADER budget for the 2023–2027 programming period: €325,000.
Minimum projected expenditure: €15,000 excluding tax.
Maximum projected expenditure: €160,000 excluding tax.
Maximum public aid rate: 80%.
FEADER co-financing rate: 85% of the public aid amount awarded.
Form of support: grant.
Submission and selection terms: rolling submission or call for projects depending on applicable terms; applications are scored and ranked.

The amounts of €15,000 and €160,000 relate to the operation's projected expenditure, not the grant amount. The maximum rate of 80% is a ceiling and may be reduced by the applicable State aid or de minimis scheme. Where the aid is covered by an agreement, an advance of up to 50% may be paid. Assignment of supplier receivables is also possible under the FEADER procedure.

3. SUPPORTED ACTIONS

The measure targets forest access infrastructure, in particular:

Creation or development of forest roads.
Creation or improvement of forest tracks.
Creation or development of turning areas for vehicles and machinery.
Creation or development of depot areas needed for temporary timber storage.
Creation or improvement of skidding trails used to move timber to depot points.

The aim is to facilitate timber mobilisation and improve the competitiveness of the forest-timber industry. Access routes can also contribute to risk prevention, sustainable management of plots and public access to forest areas for certain uses. Eligibility must nonetheless be linked to a forest access project; the measure does not constitute general aid for hiking trails or public roads.

4. ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES

The applicant must be a private business, whether a sole trader or a company, with an agricultural or forestry character.

Beneficiaries must be up to date with their social security contributions and tax obligations. The applicant's status and the agricultural or forestry character of the activity must be checked before matching the scheme.

5. CONDITIONS RELATING TO FOREST OWNERSHIP AND THE PROJECT

Documentary requirements depend on the size and configuration of the property:

Property comprising one or more forest plots totalling at least 20 hectares, in a single block or within the same geographical area defined by decree: a Simple Management Plan (PSG) is required.
Forest property between 10 and 20 hectares: a voluntary PSG may be submitted.
Other situations: the applicant must provide documents and information allowing an assessment of the project's contribution to sustainable forest management.

The application must notably demonstrate:

Consideration of environmental requirements in the route design.
Definition of the technical characteristics of the infrastructure.
The existence of an opportunity and feasibility study.
The existence of a landscape integration and ecological impact notice.
Ownership of the land or the owner's authorisation.

The project must comply with forestry regulations and the requirements applicable to risk prevention, in particular the rules arising from circular C2012-3076 of 17 September 2012 and the order of 19 July 2012, as amended by the 2023 texts relating to forest fire prevention and control.

6. ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE

The expenditure categories identified by the notice include:

Physical investments linked to forest access infrastructure, under the conditions set by the scheme.
One-off technical services, in particular plans, studies, services and plot diagnostics where they do not fall under overheads.
Overheads incurred upstream of the investment, general support for carrying out the operation and project management, in particular plans, studies, services and plot diagnostics.
Staff and self-build costs taken into account by means of a simplified cost option (SCO), under conditions.

For the SCO, a maximum flat rate of 20% of the operation's direct expenditure may cover staff and self-build costs, including unpaid work, except for work covered by a ten-year guarantee. The applicant must submit a note explaining the existence and necessity of the expenditure concerned. The flat rate does not apply if expenditure linked to formalised contracts is included in the calculation base in the cases excluded by the notice. Application of the SCO is subject to assessment.

Calls for projects may restrict the list of eligible expenditure.

7. INELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE

In addition to the general regulatory exclusions of FEADER, the notice notably mentions:

Fines and contractual financial penalties.
Contractual financial penalties.
Legal and litigation costs.
Exceptional charges falling under account 67 of the general chart of accounts.
Dividends, subject to the exception provided for certain staff costs of unsalaried managers of SMEs.
Certain expenditure linked to amicable settlements and default interest.
VAT where it is recoverable.
Second-hand equipment, except in the cases and conditions authorised.
Depreciation costs, except for exceptions provided for by regulation.
"Octroi de mer" taxes. In-kind contributions are excluded, except for the exception relating to unpaid work allowed under the SCO.

8. SELECTION OF PROJECTS

Selection may be carried out through calls for projects or on a rolling basis. Notice V1 sets a minimum threshold of 180 points.

Criteria and weighting:

Strengthening the business's competitiveness: 25 points.
Improvement of working conditions: 25 points.
Increase in the quality and quantity of products intended for the local market: 10 points.
Valuing local production: 20 points.
Impact on resources, the environment and climate: 20 points. Total: 100 weighting points.

The grid notably assesses the adoption of innovative or efficient equipment, the applicant's skills development, the structuring of the industry, productivity gains and the reduction of physical strain. The stated objectives must be substantiated and, where appropriate, supported by evidence.

9. AID SCHEMES

Most operations may fall under Article 42 of the TFEU in the agricultural sector. Some operations fall under a State aid scheme or the de minimis scheme depending on their nature. The notice notably cites scheme SA.107473 relating to aid in the forestry sector, as well as certain schemes applicable to the diversification of farm activities, agritourism or farm-based hospitality. These schemes may reduce the effective public aid rate.

10. OPERATIONAL READING FOR CAPITAL OS

Sub-category: Forestry / Infrastructure / Timber industry.

Matching signals:

Creation or rebuilding of a forest track.
Access route to exploited forest plots.
Private forest road.
Timber depot area.
Turning area for forestry machinery.
Skidding trail.
Timber mobilisation or evacuation project with dedicated infrastructure.

Qualification filters:

The applicant is a private business, sole trader or company, with an agricultural or forestry character.
The projected budget is between €15,000 and €160,000 excluding tax.
The operation actually concerns forest access infrastructure.
Ownership or the owner's authorisation is demonstrated.
The PSG or the sustainable management documents required according to area are provided.
The feasibility study, environmental requirements and the landscape/ecological notice are available.
The project reaches the selection threshold of 180 points under Notice V1.
The applicable aid scheme and effective rate are verified.

False positives to avoid:

Purchase of a forest plot with no access road project.
Planting or reforestation alone.
Hiking trail unrelated to forest access infrastructure.
Municipal road mainly intended to serve farms.
Project carried out by an association or local authority not matching the stated beneficiaries.

Use case: a private forestry or agricultural business owning or operating fragmented wooded plots and wishing to create an access track, a depot area and a turning area to make harvesting and timber evacuation technically possible.

11. OFFICIAL SOURCES

Europe Guadeloupe scheme page: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/financement/feader-region-guadeloupe_infrastructures-dessertes-forestieres/
FEADER 73.06 Notice V1, entered into force on 18/12/2025: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Notice_73.06_IT16_0.0.0_V1_251218.pdf
FEADER Guadeloupe regional strategic plan V6, applicable since 27/04/2026: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PSR_FEADER_V6.pdf
EURO-PAC submission portal: https://europac.regionguadeloupe.fr/

Written content, currently under editorial review — this is not an eligibility assessment; only your personalised report applies your company's actual criteria.