Donation Campaign Launched for the Fontainebleau Forest

Fontainebleau – 17 July 2026: The Fondation du Patrimoine has launched a special campaign for the Fontainebleau forest landscape affected by the major fire. According to the announcement published on Friday, an initial 200,000 euros is to be made available for first protective and safety measures. The fundraising campaign is supported jointly by the state forestry agency ONF, the City of Fontainebleau, the Seine-et-Marne department and the Île-de-France region.

The fire had spread through the Fontainebleau forest area since the afternoon of 12 July. According to the Gendarmerie, more than 2,000 hectares of forest were damaged. Emergency services deployed extensive fire brigade, police and Gendarmerie resources. The burned areas are still being examined, while authorities assess the consequences for paths, natural areas and affected residents.

The new fundraising drive is intended primarily to support the immediate safeguarding of damaged areas and the protection of biodiversity. Measures to restore the forest are to be prepared at a later stage. The partners intend to rely on more resilient tree species that can better cope with drought, wildfires and other climate-related pressures. However, specific planting and restoration plans have not yet been announced.

The municipal and regional partners have announced their financial participation in the initiative. On Thursday, the Seine-et-Marne department said it would co-finance the foundation’s exceptional fundraising campaign. This means the drive will not be supported by private contributions alone. No complete details were initially available on the precise allocation of the pledged public and private funds.

According to the foundation’s official project page, the sum of 200,000 euros represents an initial urgently needed funding framework for protective measures. The display of online donations received directly, published there, most recently showed a significantly lower amount. The participating bodies initially did not further explain whether the mobilization of more than 200,000 euros cited in media reports already includes binding commitments from institutions.

In addition to reconstruction, the cause of the fire remains the subject of a criminal investigation. According to the Gendarmerie, the Fontainebleau public prosecutor’s office has assigned the investigation to the Paris research division and the Fontainebleau investigative brigade. Specialists from the Gendarmerie’s forensic institute are to examine the fire sites and analyze possible causes.

The fire continues to have practical consequences for residents and visitors. Damaged forest sections may remain closed for safety reasons as long as fallen trees, smoldering hotspots or damaged infrastructure cannot be ruled out. The donation campaign therefore complements ongoing public measures: in the long term, it is intended to help restore an especially important natural area of Île-de-France ecologically.