Erstaufforstung beantragen

• § 10 Waldgesetz für den Freistaat Sachsen (SächsWaldG) – Erstaufforstung
• § 3 Sächsisches Verwaltungskostengesetz (SächsVwKG) – Verwaltungskostenpflicht
• Sächsisches Kostenverzeichnis (SächsKVZ), Anlage 1Lfd. Nr. 40 – Forstverwaltung

If you wish to carry out initial afforestation by sowing seeds or planting trees and shrubs on an area that was not previously a forest, you will require a licence from the lower forestry authority. The same applies if you wish to plant a Christmas tree or ornamental brushwood in a meadow or built-up area.

You will only be refused authorisation if

• There are conflicting spatial planning objectives,
• the afforestation conflicts with the improvement of the agricultural structure,
• mandatory provisions of nature conservation law conflict with this and/or
• the productive capacity of neighbouring properties is significantly impaired without the adverse effects being able to be prevented or compensated for through conditions.

Authorisation is not required if afforestation has already been bindingly established on the land by other public law regulations.

The agricultural authority only examines the authorisation of the initial afforestation. Ownership, lease and utilisation relationships are not taken into account.

• Proof of the size of the area (extract from the land register or cadastre)
• Site plan of the afforestation area with specified markings

Further details can be found in the documents provided or in the online applications.

Eligible applicants: natural persons and legal entities (companies).

none

You can submit your application for initial afforestation in writing or online, depending on the regulations of the respective authority (see -> Online application). You can also obtain the application form from Amt24 or from the authority's own website.

Online application

• Set up a service account in Amt24 and log in to the service portal.
• Follow the link to the online application and fill in the data fields according to the instructions. You can save the information at any time and complete it at a later date.
• Once all the data fields have been completed, finalise the application and the data will be sent to the responsible office.
• You will find the application confirmation in the inbox of your service account. You will receive a notification of incoming messages to your personal e-mail address.

Written application

• Submit the completed and signed application with the required supporting documents to the responsible office; you can send the documents electronically by e-mail.

Examination and decision

• Based on the information you provide, the authority will check whether there are any grounds for refusal of the licence. Other specialist authorities (e.g. the lower forestry and nature conservation authority) and the local authority are involved in the authorisation procedure.
• The authorisation is deemed to have been granted if no environmental impact assessment is required and the competent authority does not reject the application within six months of receipt. The authorising authority can extend the deadline by up to two months for good cause.

A decision is made by official notice. Initial afforestation may be granted subject to ancillary provisions.

up to six months (up to eight months for good cause)

• Fictitious authorisation: Six months
  (The authorisation becomes effective automatically if the approval authority remains silent on the application)
• Period of validity of the authorisation: generally three years

Appeal (more details on the procedure in the notification)