Minister Healy-Rae announces opportunity for businesses to associate with native woodlands
- Published on: 14 April 2025
- Last updated on: 15 April 2025
Minister of State for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy-Rae, has today announced the opening of the updated Woodland Environmental Fund.
Minister Healy-Rae said:
“I would like to encourage businesses of all types and sizes to consider participating in the Woodland Environmental Fund. Doing so not only helps local landowners and expands Ireland’s native woodlands - with all of the positive benefits associated with this resource - but it also enhances the reputation of the participating business, which is then associated with the creation of a significant tangible environmental asset that will become a permanent feature of the landscape.”
The Minister continued:
“Expanding our native forests will benefit natural habitats, enhance water quality, and promote carbon capture. Native woodlands also represent potential additional income streams for the forest owner, as well as providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and outdoor classrooms, which benefit local communities.”
The Woodland Environmental Fund was first established in 2020 under the Forestry Programme 2014-2020, and has been reopened under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027. Farmers and other landowners interested in planting native woodlands may opt into the Woodland Environmental Fund as part of their native forest afforestation application. An individual business can then decide to support a particular project that best fits its requirements and available resources, through engagement with a Woodland Environmental Fund Facilitator.
Minister Healy-Rae concluded:
“The Woodland Environmental Fund is an ideal way for a business to exercise, and demonstrate, its corporate social responsibility, as the restoration of Ireland’s once-vast forests of oak, birch and alder delivers real environmental benefits, as well as providing additional income to farmers.”
Notes
Businesses participating in the Woodland Environmental Fund pay landowners €1,000/ha for planting native woodland under ‘Forest Types’ FT1 and FT2 of the Afforestation Scheme.
This payment from the business is in addition to the grant available under that Scheme.
By getting involved in the Woodlan Environmental Fund, the business is instrumental in encouraging the landowner to engage in native woodland creation, and the business itself can cite its role as a strong demonstration of its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and the protection and enhancement of the environment.
The Specification Document and relevant template forms are available to view on: Forestry Grants and Schemes.
Forestry Programme 2023-2027
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 was launched in September 2023, offering new afforestation grant rates up to 66% higher than the previous Forestry Programme. The Programme also extends annual afforestation payments to farmers from 15 years to 20, and increases them significantly, for example, €1,142 per hectare for 20 years for planting a new forest of native trees. Full details on the grant and annual payment rates for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 are available at gov.ie/forestry, along with frequently asked questions, a forestry payment calculator and payment examples.
Farmers can find information on afforestation grants and premiums here: Farm Forestry Booklet.
Calculate potential afforestation income here: Forestry Calculator