Tielt introduces a tree tax as the first city in Flanders: “If you want to cut down trees, you either have to plant new ones or pay [a compensation fee]”
Tielt introduces a tree tax as the first city in Flanders: “If you want to cut down trees, you either have to plant new ones or pay [a compensation fee]”
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**Whoever wants to cut down a tree in Tielt, should think twice about doing so from 2022 onwards. The city council is going to introduce a new type of tax, whereby everyone who wants to cut down a tree either has to plant (a few) new trees, or pay a tax. Tielt is the very first city in Flanders to introduce such a tree tax.**
The idea for a new tree fund, which could be used to provide more greenery in the city, dates back to the beginning of this legislature, but the elaboration of it was not without its difficulties. “That is because we are the first city in Flanders to introduce this,” says alderman for nature Roos Tack (CD&V), who also outlines the reason for the tree tax. “We often receive requests from people who want to fell a tree, and of course we treat them with care, while always asking them to compensate for the felling elsewhere. Until now, however, we had no objective framework within which to weigh up these requests. We are now changing this with new tax regulations, which will be submitted to the city council in December.”
**Up to 1,000 euros for a tree**
Specifically, the amount of the tax depends on the thickness of the tree that is felled. Anyone wishing to fell a tree with a trunk circumference of 1.90 metres or more has to pay 1,000 euros. For smaller trees you pay 750 euros (girth 131 to 190 cm), 500 euros (66 to 130 cm) or 250 euros (30 to 65 cm). But you can also avoid this tax by compensating with a new planting elsewhere. This too is geared to the value of the lost tree. For example, to replace a large tree, at least five new small trees must be planted with a circumference of 33 centimetres, or one tree with a circumference of more than 100 centimetres. This new planting should also be proven by photographs. If these photos are not delivered to the city within a certain period of time, payment must still be made.
The money generated by the tree tax is put into a fund that will be used by the city to plant new greenery, including to help afforest the new urban edge forest. “The idea indeed dates back to the beginning of this legislature,” says Tack. “But it has taken at least two years to develop it. After all, no other city or municipality has regulations like this yet. Although we have thought about it very thoroughly. We asked experts and the Association of Public Green Areas for tips and advice. The Agentschap Binnenlands Bestuur (Home Administration Agency) also gave us its blessing. All the bodies we consulted were very positive about the idea. Who knows, we might even be able to inspire other cities and municipalities.”
**Exceptions**
Anyone who works professionally with trees need not worry, by the way. There are a few exceptions to the regulation. Diseased or dead trees that could pose a danger are not covered by the regulation. Tree growers, fruit growers and government services also do not have to pay tax.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Way to go
May Tielt be an inspiration for us all
The only concern I have is with neighbors complaining. For me the only reason I’ve ever felled a healthy tree was because it was too close to a neighbors property and he didn’t like it. Who pays the tax in that case?
Many communes already have something like this, but without the tax system. If you want to cut down a tree in your garden, you have to replace it with a native one instead. This is called a “omgevingsvergunning”.
IMO paying a tax to not have to replant a tree is a step backwards.