Agroforestry Policies in France
EURAF Policy Briefing #35 is produced jointly by EURAF, and the AgoForAdapt and DigitAF Projects.. The report gives a detailed description of agroforestry policies and practices in France, outlining how the intentional integration of trees with crops or livestock is supported by national frameworks and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Agroforestry is a crucial land use in France, covering approximately 1.55 million hectares. Under the CAP Strategic Plan, these systems are eligible for direct area payments. On arable land, eligibility requires tree density to remain under 100 trees per hectare, while on pastoral land, a more complicated pro-rata system, poses a risk for farmers of losing entitlements if the tree or shrub cover on a parcel is too great.
France utilises Eco-schemes to reward biodiversity infrastructure financially, such as the “Bonus Haie” for maintaining hedgerows, and the CAP includes performance metrics like committing 3.7 million hectares to climate adaptation. Beyond agricultural subsidies, the briefing explores the intersection of agroforestry with other policy frameworks like the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). France leverages the voluntary carbon market through its state-backed “Label Bas-Carbone,” providing a methodology for farmers to monetize carbon sequestration from hedges and orchards. France’s agroforestry sector is supported by research institutions like INRAE, a structured civil society network, and the “Pacte en faveur de la haie,” which aimed at a net gain of 50,000 kilometers of hedges by 2030, but for which funding was severely cut in 2025.
Opportunities include utilizing trees as a climate adaptation strategy to shade livestock and crops, and expanding local bioeconomy supply chains. However, structural barriers hinder wider adoption. The “Statut du Fermage” (Tenant Farming Statute) requires tenant farmers to secure landowner permission to plant trees, effectively blocking investments on rented land. Farmers also face challenges with the complex “Telepac” administrative system, unpredictable budget volatility, a shortage of technical advisors, and an economic “Valley of Death” during the early years of tree establishment. Biological vulnerabilities from pests and land competition from agrivoltaics pose additional threats.
The report concludes with 20 actionable recommendations for policymakers, highlighting the need to reform tenant farming laws, to remove contradictory incentives, to establish a localized “one-stop shop” (guichet unique) to help farmers navigate complex grants, and to secure stable, long-term funding which ensures sustainable maintenance of planted trees.
Une traduction en français de la note d’orientation n° 35 est en préparation
