Press release
Minister Hackett launches innovative Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, has today launched the new Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme.
Minister Hackett said:
“The innovative Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme aims to increase the climate resilience of the national forest estate by increasing the proportion of forest land managed under permanent forest cover. It provides a pathway to a greater species diversity, decreasing the risk from pest, disease and extreme weather events such as drought and windblow. This pilot scheme offers financial supports to current forest owners who wish to replant their forests in a different way after felling.”
This new form of support is being initially launched as a pilot scheme and offers financial support to forest owners who wish to reforest for a different purpose and to build resilience in response to the challenges that climate brings to Irish forests. The scheme will build capacity for more sustainable forests that can produce high quality timber products and deliver important ecosystem services, such as protecting and improving soil and water quality.
Forest owners can choose from three different elements in the Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme: Reforestation for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF), Reforestation for Native Forests and Reforestation for Biodiversity and Water.
The Minister concluded
“We look forward to engaging with forest owners on their plans for their next forest rotation and incorporating the learning from these experiences into future plans for the Scheme.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Maximum Grant Levels (Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme
| Element | Fixed Grant - €/ha |
| Element 1: Reforestation for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) | €1,800 |
| Element 2: Reforestation for Native Forests | High Ecological |
Priority Area||€4,000|
| All other sites | €2,225 |
| Element 3: Reforestation for Biodiversity and Water | €2,500 |
Premium Payments per hectare
| Element 1: Reforestation for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) | €150 (for 7 years) |
| Element 2: Reforestation for Native Forests (high ecological priority area) | €650 (for 7 years) |
| Element 2: Reforestation for Native Forests | €500 (for 7 years) |
| Element 3: Reforestation for Biodiversity and Water: | €350 (for 7 years) |
Full details on how to apply, along with grant and premium rates, are available on gov.ie: gov - Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme (www.gov.ie)
Forestry Programme 2023-2027
The Woodland Improvement Scheme is the latest element of the new Forestry Programme to open to applications. The Programme was launched in September, 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, e.g. €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