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Florian Moutafian
Published on
Nov 7 2024 at 1:26 p.m
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Within Arbres et Paysages d'Autan, an association promoting the role of trees and rural hedges whose headquarters are located in Ayguesvives, south-east of Toulouse, we make no secret of a strong worry. In its draft Finance Law 2025the Government of the Prime Minister Michel Barnier announces a big budget cut for the very recent Pact in favor of the hedge. This one would pass from 110 million to 30 million eurosa drop of 72%
Voted in September 2023, this system was then “very ambitious”, comments William Faragocoordinator of the Autan Tree and Landscape planting programs. “It was a historic pact! It resulted in regional calls for projects so that farmers were supported by structures like ours. »
Aid for farmers
Thanks to the pact, farmers can benefit public aid to promote planting acts. “They are not subsidized only for the purchase of plants, but for the entire implementation that a hedge planting project represents: the time to prepare the soil, the planting itself, the installation of the mulching and the maintenance part,” describes William Farago.
One way to facilitate the planting of hedges for farmers. “They receive a grant equal to the investment in the project. It’s very advantageous and planting hedges is part of a farmer’s mission,” explains the association’s employee.
The hedge: a “major issue”
The hedge is also an ally of the farmer, assures this specialist. She protects crops against climatic hazardswind, drought, or soil erosion (mudslides)… Also at the agronomic level, it allows the maintenance of organic matter in the soil, as well as the reception of pollinators and “crop auxiliaries”, organisms useful to cultivated plants.
William Farago's argument does not stop there. The hedge is “a major issue for the territory”, he defends, whether in terms of climate or biodiversity. “A territory without trees and without hedges is not a territory that will adapt to current challenges. You only have to see the floods when there are no hedges to block the rainy episodes. The hedge is a strong axis of the ecological transition…”
Around fifty files submitted
In Haute-Garonne, a consortium made up of Arbres et Paysages d'Autan, the Departmental Council, the Chamber of Agriculture, the Hunting Federation and the Racines Fertiles company supports farmers wishing to benefit from this system.
A fifty professionals filed a file. “It doesn’t seem like much, but the State only gave us two months to do it,” explains William Farago.
This figure could have swelled in the years to come. But the coordinator of planting programs fears that it will be seriously revised downwards in the event of a decrease in funds. “The 2025 finance bill worries us… The hedge plan is designed for 2030. It would slow down or put a stop to ambitions if, in 2025, there are no budgets. »
Additional subsidies along the Canal du Midi
It kind of flew under the radar. Two years ago, Arbres et Paysages d'Autan and Voies navigables de France (VNF, the manager of the Canal du Midi) signed a partnership. Thanks to this document, additional subsidies are added to those of the Occitanie Region for the public (communities and individuals) wishing to plant hedges.
To benefit from it, the project must be located less than 15 km from either side of the Canal du Midi. It must also meet certain criteria. “The plantation must have an essential role for biodiversity and strengthen the ecological corridors in this territory,” specifies William Farago.
Thanks to this new aid from VNF, complementary to that of the Region, the remainder payable by the planter is reduced by half. As usual, Arbres et Paysages d'Autan is responsible for technical advice, choice and supply of plants and ensures monitoring for a period of two years. “The planter undertakes to prepare his soil according to our advice, plant according to the rules of the art and put in place mulch at the foot of the plantation,” adds the association employee.
Interested parties can register during this month of November, or even December, to benefit from the availability of plants in February 2025.
An amendment that reassures (a little)
Objective for the Arbres et Paysages d’Autan association: solicit deputies and senatorsbecause the 2025 Finance Bill is currently being examined. So there is still hope.
The proof: an amendment proposed by MP Jean-Luc Fugit (Together for the Republic) was adopted on Wednesday October 23 by the Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
This “increases the budget of the Pact in favor of the hedge by 20 million euros in commitment authorizations and 10 million euros in payment credits”, we welcome within Afac-Agrofroesteries networkof which the Arbres et Paysages d'Autan association is a member. Before to temper : “The budget nevertheless remains far from 110 million euros! »
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