Timber Risk Score: 100 / 100 in 2017. The Timber Legality Risk Assessment contains an evaluation of the risk of illegality in France for five categories and 21 sub-categories of law. We found:
- Specified risk for 0 sub-categories.
- Low risk for 16 sub-categories.
- No legal requirements for 5 sub-categories.
This page provides an overview of the legality risks related to timber produced in France*.
30.8% (16.8 million ha) of France is covered by forests of which:
- About 88% is naturally-regenerated forest
- About 12% is planted forest.
Roundwood production totalled 52.6 million m3 in 2015. The forestry sector (including wood processing and pulp and paper) contributed USD 14.6 billion to the economy in 2011, which was nearly 0.6% of the GDP.
NEPCon has evaluated France as low risk for illegally harvested timber. If you are sourcing timber from France you should still take care to ensure that risks are not present in your supply chains.
* The risk assessment applies to metropolitan (mainland) France only; the CITES box applies to all of France
Score: 71 / 100 in 2021
Rank: 22 out of 180 countries in 2021
There are currently no armed conflicts in France according to the Council on Foreign Relations' Global Conflict Tracker
CITES appendix II: Aniba rosaeodora (French Guiana (FG)), Dalbergia spp., Guaiacum officinale (Guadeloupe (G)), Swietenia macrophylla (FG, G), Swietenia mahagoni (G)
FSC Certified Forest Area: 64,441 hectares (4 December 2019
PEFC Certified Forest Area: 5,619,599 hectares (31 December 2019).
Information gathering
- Find out the different sources of legal timber
- Determine which source type your timber comes from
Timber source | Description of source type |
---|---|
Public forest, and private forest >25 ha |
Timber either from public forests or private forests larger than 25 ha. A forest owner in possession of valid forest management documents or a Special Administrative Authorisation may harvest according to the management plan / authorisation. A harvest permit is not required. There are no general rules regarding harvesting operations in Natura 2000 areas. However, when drafting the forest management document, the manager shall refer to the Natura 2000 area. |
Private forest <25 ha |
Timber from private forests smaller than 25 ha. A harvest permit is required. When a forest owner applies for Special Administrative Authorisation the Regional Forest Owners' Centre will provide an opinion on the application to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and/or Ministry of Environment. The relevant Ministry then makes a final decision based on this opinion and on the forest owner’s original application. |
Protected forest | Timber from protected forests. Harvesting operations can occur in reserves and regional national parks under certain conditions, depending on the protection status and on the areas. The decree creating a reserve defines the rules governing that reserve. In regional natural parks rules for regulating harvesting can be applied, for instance to preserve the landscape. The management plan, including harvesting plan, and its compliance with the specific protected area rules are approved by the dedicated administration. |
Risk assessment
Low risk of illegality. We found that any breaches of applicable laws are temporary, unusual, limited in their impact, and effectively controlled by the relevant authorities.
Risk mitigation
We have not identified any specified risks and therefore have not suggested any mitigation actions.