Forestry for Fibre
- Published on: 21 February 2020
- Last updated on: 20 January 2022
What the Forestry for Fibre scheme is
The Forestry for Fibre scheme provides financial assistance to landowners who want to plant fast growing trees suitable for a range of purposes, including wood panel and fuel production.
Forestry for Fibre, an option within the Afforestation Scheme 2014-2020, plays an important role in Ireland’s transition to a low carbon future by supporting the production of sustainable and renewable wood fibre.
How to qualify
You must be over 18 years of age and must hold a Personal Public Service Number to apply. Companies must provide their company registration details. You must be the owner, leaseholder or joint manager of the land at the time of the application. Read the terms of the scheme to see the limited exemptions to this rule.
All afforestation projects must get prior written technical approval. Financial approval is also needed for grant-aided projects before work can commence.
Sites must be below 200m in elevation, enclosed, and with free-draining arable or pasture soils or surface water gleys without a peat layer. Typical land afforested under this option will be improved agricultural land and arable fields. Forestry for Fibre is a separate grant and premium category (GPC) administered as part of the main Afforestation Scheme.
Eligible species
Eligible species and clones are as follows:
| Species/genus | Species and clones* |
| Italian Alder | Alnus cordata |
| Hybrid aspen | Populus tremula x tremuloides (subject to plant availability) |
| Eucalyptus | E. glaucescens, gunnii, nitens, rodwayi and subcrenulata. (E. nitens only, to be restricted to within 50km of coast and frost-prone, low-lying areas also avoided), other species will be considered on application |
| Poplar | Clones 2 18 71058/2, Fritzi Pauley, Trichobel, V.471xV.24(65)/34, 72030/7, 76004/10 Raspalje 19 and Unal. AF2, AF4, A4A, AF27, AF8, AF16, AF18 Max 1, Max 3, Max 4, Matrix, 49 Matrix 24 Grimmage Monviso |
- additional species and clones may be supported where demonstration plots/research exhibit suitability for Irish conditions. Mixtures of clones are recommended.
Terms of the Scheme
This document provides the terms and conditions of the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme 2014-2020. The Afforestation Scheme 2014-2020 provides financial support to encourage the planting of trees on land not previously under forest.
You must be over 18 years of age and must hold a Personal Public Service Number to apply. Companies must provide their company registration details.
Rates of payment
Grant rates
Grant rates for Forestry for Fibre are as follows:
| GPC | 1st Grant €/ha | 2nd Grant €/ha | Additional Fencing Allocation €/ha IS436 | Total Available Funding €/ha |
| 12 (Forestry for Fibre) | €2,410 | €805 | €600 | €3,815 |
Premium rates
Premium rates for Forestry for Fibre are as follows:
| GPC | Annual Premium €/ha | Annual Premium €/ha | Duration (years) |
| <10ha | >10ha | ||
| 12 ( Forestry for Fibre) | €510 | €520 | 15 |
Apply
For further details on how to apply contact:
Forestry - Approvals - Afforestation & Forest Road Licences
- Address:
- Forestry Division , Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co Wexford,
- Telephone:
-
+353 (0)53 9163425