French government provides aid for forest owners

The French government has announced financial assistance for forest owners in the Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques regions, where trees have been cut down to combat the pine nematode. The aid is intended to compensate for income lost due to the removal of trees, which was mandated by administrative measures to control the spread of the pest.

Pine nematode causes significant damage

The pine nematode, known scientifically as Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a tiny, translucent worm less than one millimeter in size. It can destroy entire forests by infecting and killing coniferous trees, making it a serious threat to forest ecosystems.

Financial details of the assistance

The assistance program is funded with 200,000 euros, and the compensation is calculated based on the difference between the initial intended selling price of the timber and the final selling price. There is a cap on the amount each beneficiary can receive. Applications for the aid can be submitted until December 15, 2026.

Spread of the pine nematode

The first case of the pine nematode was detected in Seignosse, Landes, in November 2025. Since then, efforts have focused on eradicating the pest by cutting down pines in a 500-meter radius around infected trees and removing dead trees from a 20-kilometer buffer zone.

Expanding affected area

The area affected by the pine nematode has grown to 461,800 hectares as of the latest report, up from nearly 400,000 hectares in mid-September. Recent detections include six new infections in several communes in Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

Tree removal efforts continue

According to the latest bulletin from the Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (Draaf) Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 18,294 infected trees have been cut down in forests as of October 28. Additional trees were removed from gardens, green spaces, and vegetated infrastructure, though the clear-cutting in Seignosse and the destruction of infected trees are not included in these numbers.