Minister of State for land use and biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, has unveiled a groundbreaking pilot scheme aimed at boosting the amount of forest land covered by permanent forestry. The innovative initiative offers a range of grant rates, with a substantial €4,000 available for high ecological priority native forest areas. Additionally, forest owners stand to benefit from premium payments annually for a period of seven years.
Entitled the Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme, this program has been carefully crafted to enhance the climate resilience of Ireland’s national forest estate. Minister Hackett emphasized that the scheme paves the way for greater species diversity, thereby reducing the vulnerability to threats such as pests, diseases, droughts, and wind damage. She highlighted, “The pilot scheme provides financial support to existing forest owners who are keen to replant their forests in a more sustainable manner post-felling.”
The launch of this new scheme marks a significant step in supporting forest owners who wish to embark on a different reforestation journey. The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine outlined that the initiative aims to bolster the capacity for sustainable forests capable of yielding high-quality timber products and offering essential ecosystem services like soil and water quality enhancement. Minister Hackett expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We eagerly anticipate collaborating with forest owners on their plans for the next rotation and integrating the insights gained into future iterations of the scheme.”
Forest owners are presented with three distinct options under the Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme: Element 1 for continuous cover forestry (CCF), Element 2 for native forests, and Element 3 for biodiversity and water conservation. The grant rates allocated for each element are as follows:
– Element 1: €1,800 per hectare
– Element 2 (high ecological priority area): €4,000 per hectare
– Element 2 (all other sites): €2,225 per hectare
– Element 3: €2,500 per hectare
In addition to the fixed grant rates, forest owners can also avail of annual premium rates for a duration of seven years. These premium rates vary depending on the element chosen:
– Element 1: €150 per hectare annually for seven years
– Element 2 (high ecological priority area): €650 per hectare annually for seven years
– Element 2 (all other sites): €500 per hectare annually for seven years
– Element 3: €350 per hectare annually for seven years
