According to the farm ministry, one third of France – or 16 million ha – is now covered by trees, 70% of which is privately owned with the remainder state owned. More than one million owners have at least one hectare of trees.
Many people chose to invest in forests in the late 1970s, but they will have to wait some time before seeing any return, although they can benefit from significant tax rebates meanwhile.
Those who invested in wooded land, forests or parts of a forest group from mid-2001 until the end of 2010 can benefit from a tax deduction equalling 25% of their investment within a limit of €5,700 for a single person and double for a couple.
