Financial supports for planting and conserving native species

INVESTING IN Ireland’s native woodlands is an important component of Ireland’s Forestry Programme 2014–2020. In this regard, the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) operates a package of measures, to encourage farmers and other landowners to create new native woodland and to restore existing native woodland.

The Forestry Programme 2014-2020 sets out a target of 2,700 hectares for new native woodland establishment and 2,000 hectares for woodland restoration projects. This represents an investment of over €20 million up to the year 2020.

NATIVE WOODLAND ESTABLISHMENT

The Native Woodland Establishment Scheme (NWS Est.) supports the establishment of new native woodlands on ‘green field’ sites under Grant and Premium Categories 9 and 10. In 2016 alone, the Forest Service funded the creation of between 150 and 200 hectares of new native woodland.

The First Grant (‘the afforestation grant’) is available to cover the costs associated with the establishment of the new native woodland and is payable after planting with the balance paid by way of a Second Grant (‘the maintenance grant’) four years after successful establishment. Grants are dependent on which scenario you choose (see below).

Landowners are also entitled to annual forest premiums dependent on the scenario chosen. These premiums are payable for a period of 15 years.

NATIVE WOODLAND CONSERVATION

The focus of this measure is the restoration of existing native woodland. Typical examples include the removal of invasive species such as rhododendron or the conversion of existing conifer forests to native woodland and the protection and management of existing ‘scrub’ to capitalise on its ecological value as emerging native woodland.

A private woodland owner is also entitled to an annual premium of €350 per hectare per year for a period of seven years.

Interested in creating a woodland on the farm with a very high biodiversity value? Experts will be on hand to field your questions at the Teagasc Forestry Advisory Clinics to be held across Ireland in the second week in January? See opposite page for details.