Reforestation; application for an extension of the deadline

Forest areas that no longer have any trees, e.g. after felling measures or as a result of storms or insect damage, must be reforested. Forest owners must ensure this by planting, sowing or natural regeneration within a certain period of time.

Article 15 of the Bavarian Forest Act (BayWaldG) stipulates that forest owners must reforest areas that have been clear-cut or left unstocked due to damage within a certain period of time.

Against the backdrop of climate change, forest owners should pay particular attention to the selection of tree species. Tree species that are as climate-tolerant as possible and adapted to the local soil conditions have a better chance of coping with the changing climate.

If you have any questions, the foresters of the Bavarian Forestry Administration will be happy to help you (see forester finder under "Further links").

Forest areas that have been cleared or left unstocked as a result of damage must be reforested within three years.

If the newly established or naturally occurring tree population remains incomplete, it must be sufficiently supplemented with young trees within five years of clearing the area.

Pursuant to Art. 15 para. 1 sentence 3 BayWaldG, these deadlines can be extended in special cases upon application in text form to the responsible lower forestry authority, the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.

Advice and support

The reforestation of unstocked areas and also the conversion of unstable forest stands into climate-tolerant and promising mixed forests will be financially supported by the Free State of Bavaria from July 1, 2025 by the forest promotion program, provided that the appropriate conditions are met. The foresters of the Bavarian Forestry Administration will be happy to advise you on the topics of reforestation and forest conversion, e.g. on locally adapted tree species, planting methods and funding opportunities (see forester finder under "Further links").