Preasráitis
New Forestry Knowledge Transfer Scheme 2020 has opened
Ó An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle, announced the opening of the Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group (KTG) Scheme for 2020. This is a conditional launch in light of current public health restrictions on group meetings. The purpose of launching the scheme now is to allow organisers to secure participants and complete the necessary preparations to be ready to commence the meetings when public health guidelines allow.
Minister Doyle said:
"I am very pleased to announce the opening of another Forestry KTG Scheme for 2020, following the successful implementation of the Forestry KTG Schemes in 2018 and 2019. Over 600 forest owners participated in the Scheme last year all over the country. Results from 2018 and 2019 have shown that participants from these schemes have gained a lot of practical knowledge to better manage their forest and maximise the income from their holding.
"Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government currently has measures in place which will be subject to updates and modifications over the coming months. The purpose of launching the scheme now is to allow time for organisers to recruit members to their groups, with a view to commencing meetings later in the year in line with the public health guidelines. The scheme will of course be kept under review in light of those guidelines."
The aim of the Forestry KTG Scheme is to provide participating private forest owners with the knowledge they require to actively manage their own forest, mobilise their timber resource, and secure a valuable income from the crop in the market. All private forest owners are eligible to participate, irrespective of their forest currently being grant funded under the Forestry Programmes or not. Participants set their own learning agenda, led by a facilitator who is a professional forester.
The Minister’s department also today published a comprehensive review of the operation of the scheme in 2019 which analysed the effect that participation has on forestry decision-making by participants. The results were very encouraging and showed that almost all participants are now managing their forest differently as a direct result of experience gained from their group meetings. The review also highlighted some improvements which could be made to the scheme which can be included for 2020.
Forestry companies, consultants and producer groups are invited to organise Knowledge Transfer Groups. Once approved, organisers can invite forest owners to participate in the groups.
The Minister added:
"Forestry KTGs provide an ideal base for forest owners to get into contact and start cooperating to maximise scale. I encourage all participating in the scheme to continue working together either informally or as part of a producer group after having the scheme has ended."
ENDS
Each KTG can have a maximum of 20 participants and each participant will need to attend seven meetings or outdoor events in order to complete the programme. Participants in the 2018 and 2019 Schemes will not be permitted to join a KTG in 2020.
KTG payments are broken down as follows:
| Payee | Reimbursement/grant payment per | € |
| KTG Participant | Meeting attended | €70 per meeting |
| KTG Organiser | Per KTG organised | €6,500 per KTG |
A total of seven meetings and events will be organised per KTG – the maximum payment to each participant is €490.
An assessment process will apply to ensure that only applications to organise a KTG that reach a minimum standard are considered. Applications will also be ranked in the event that the scheme is over subscribed.
Each KTG application received will be rated according to the following criteria:
- how client base/membership/future participants would benefit from membership of your KTG(s)
- capacity/experience of each KTG organiser to run the KTG programme
- extent of previous knowledge transfer activities (list field trips, seminars, publications and so on)
- promotion strategy to attract inactive forest owners to the KTG
All applicants will be ranked according to the marks awarded. Available KTGs will be distributed 50:50 between forestry producer groups and forestry companies/forestry consultants.
Further details and application forms can be found on the DAFM website at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantsandpremiumschemes2014-2020.
A copy of the Scheme Terms and Conditions and the Form A application can be downloaded from the department’s website at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantsandpremiumschemes2014-2020.
Completed applications must be emailed to: [email Forestry KTG@agriculture.gov.ie ] by 4pm on 26 June 2020.
The review of the 2019 scheme can also be found at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantsandpremiumschemes2014-2020.
