On National Tree Day apply to plant a new forest with Ireland’s best funded & most environmentally sustainable Forestry Programme
- Published on: 5 October 2023
- Last updated on: 16 October 2023
Today (Thursday, 5 October) marks National Tree Day, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than by exploring the attractive grant and premium payments on offer for planting trees through Ireland’s new Forestry Programme.
Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, said:
“This National Tree Day is an ideal time for farmers and landowners to consider adding forestry to their land by applying for one of the many well-funded options under the new Forestry Programme. Annual premium payments and revenue from any timber sales are free from income tax, making forestry an attractive investment now and for the future.
“We all know the wonderful benefits of a walk in the woods, which is why my department is expanding the NeighbourWood Scheme under the new Forestry Programme to support the creation of new public amenity forests and the enhancement of existing forests for public access, education, recreation and health and wellbeing for rural and urban communities. The Programme will also encourage public bodies to create native woodlands on land already owned by them as part of their own environmental objectives around water quality, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
“The new €1.3 billion Forestry Programme is all about expanding, protecting, and developing Ireland’s forests and the forestry sector. It is a significant milestone and reflects the public’s desire for more trees to be planted, and for forests that meet society’s recreational, economic and environmental needs. The Forestry Programme will deliver multiple benefits for climate, nature, water quality, wood production, rural communities and the wider economy.”
This National Tree Day celebrates the hazel tree through the theme “Nuts about Nature”. Farmers and landowners can plant forests of many different species through the Forestry Programme. The programme covers the 100% of the costs for landowners and farmers to plant on their land and offers annual payments for the following 15 or 20 years.
Notes
New Afforestation Rates for Forestry Programme 23-27
New afforestation 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.
The new rates represent increases of up to 66% on the previous Forestry Programme 2014-2022.
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