Surge in acts of sabotage in forests: these companies are in direct contact with the gendarmerie

During clear-cutting or thinning operations, logging companies are targeted by acts of vandalism or aggression from hostile militants. This phenomenon has been growing in recent years. From simple graffiti to sabotage, nearly 200 incidents have been recorded in Nouvelle-Aquitaine since 2020.

Deep in the forest of Vicq-sur-Breuilh (Haute-Vienne), a machine is uprooting and cutting down diseased conifers. The operation will last four days, so to monitor the machine after dark, Éric Paillot, manager of Mecafor, is taking precautions. “There are three surveillance cameras installed on the machine, which monitor the surrounding area 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And they’re connected to a remote monitoring system,” he explains.
To equip his forty vehicles, Éric Paillot spent 400,000 euros. It’s an investment he doesn’t regret. “We were able to call in law enforcement. That allowed us to take legal action against people who had committed acts of sabotage, and those individuals were convicted,” says the manager.

Graffiti, Insults, and Vandalism

These acts of malice against logging companies can sometimes have a devastating impact on their operations. Eight years ago, an arson attack destroyed a large part of a company in Ussel.
“We’re faced with graffiti, insults, and often disruptions at job sites where people are working—and that’s extremely dangerous. There are people who come in wearing masks. Professionals are often reluctant to file a complaint because they easily lose a day’s work as a result. And they also don’t want to say they’ve filed a complaint because they’ll face retaliation afterward,” explains Michel Sarr, Fibois representative in Limousin.

A Direct Link to the Gendarmerie

In response to the rise in acts of vandalism and anti-social behavior in the forests, the timber industry in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Fibois) launched an online reporting tool for these incidents in 2021. Since then, 195 incidents of damage have been reported across the region’s 12 departments.

To curb this problem, a partnership has just been established at the prefecture. Through a dedicated email address, the industry will communicate directly with the gendarmerie. “Knowing the exact location of all construction sites will allow us to direct gendarmerie patrols and the various relevant units in the area, who can then come to ensure that everything is proceeding smoothly. And once we’re better informed through this dedicated email address, we’ll also be able to take more effective legal action,” explains Julien Gossement, a colonel with the Corrèze Gendarmerie.

Often carried out by militants, the reported incidents primarily target clear-cutting operations conducted by forestry companies. Seventy-seven percent 77% of the incidents recorded in the region occur in Corrèze and Dordogne.

France3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, May 4, 2026
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