Ministers Heydon and Healy-Rae announce funding of €1.5 million for Forestry Promotion in 2025/2026
- Published on: 23 June 2025
- Last updated on: 23 June 2025
Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Healy-Rae, today announced the results of the 2025/2026 Open Call for Proposals for Forestry Promotion Projects.
Minister Heydon said:
"There was an excellent response to the call, with 48 projects selected for funding in the amount of €1.53 million over two years."
Minister Healy-Rae said:
“I welcome this collaboration between the department and our many stakeholders in promoting the benefits of the 2023-2027 Forestry Programme. I am also glad to note that many of the projects involve collaboration between organisations and groups, and cover a wide range of topics, including afforestation, sustainable forest management, timber in construction, agroforestry, continuous cover forestry and the promotion of careers in forestry. I am happy to say that there is a good nationwide spread of projects.”
The projects selected will promote many aspects of forestry in a variety of ways. These include support for a forestry village at the national ploughing championships, promotion of agroforestry and continuous cover forestry, forestry as a career option, a year-long promotional campaign ‘there is a forestry project for you’, a continuous professional development model on the use of timber in construction, exploring barriers to women’s participation in forestry, and forest and timber certification.
Minister Healy-Rae added:
“I am convinced of the benefits of our attractive forestry programme to farmers and other landowners, and that these projects will help to address gaps in the communication of our programme. Peer-led projects promoting the mutual benefits of forestry to landowners and farmers, as well as the sharing of information and good practice, will be of immense benefit in achieving our sustainable forestry targets. They will also bring great benefits to rural communities and to our environment and help to achieve climate change mitigation."
Notes
The Call for Proposals for Forestry Promotion Projects 2025/2026 covered three themes as follows:
- Afforestation promotion schemes with a particular focus on engaging with farmers, existing forest owners and other landowners.
- Promotion of the benefits of increased use of timber products in construction and design, in the context of climate action and the bioeconomy.
- Sustainable forest management schemes and climate resilience building that promotes the multi-functional benefits of trees and forests including for eco-system services, bioenergy, forestry career opportunities, forest for people and general wellness.
Details of the successful projects approved under the Call are set out in the table below.