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Seed Stand Scheme
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The Seed Stand Scheme provides financial support to forest holders to encourage the production of selected species of seeds. Tree seed stands are groups of trees managed to maximize seed production.
The seed scheme is aimed at increasing Ireland’s self-sufficiency in tree seed production. It helps to conserve forest genetic resources by providing breeding populations of designated broadleaf species such as birch, oak, sycamore and sweet chestnut.
The scheme is open to private and public forest-holders including forest nurseries. Broadleaf seed stands, and minor conifer seed stands, including Scots pine and Douglas fir, registered on the National List of Basic Material are considered for funding under the scheme.
The maximum area eligible for funding is 5 hectares (10 hectares for oak) per stand although the total area of the seed stand can be larger. The scheme supports the improvement and management of seed stands for the following species:
- Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)
- Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
- Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
- Spanish chestnut (Castanea sativa)
- Silver birch (Betula pendula)
- Downey birch (Betula pubescens)
- Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
- Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii)
Not all seed stands will be supported. For example where there is surplus seed already being produced, support will not be provided.
The scheme also supports the improvement and management of sessile oak and pedunculate oak seed stands within ancient woodland, where those seed stands have been registered in the category 'Source Identified' for gene conservation. Seed stands for other species may also be funded under the scheme on application.
Eligible costs include the following:
- provision of access paths
- fencing
- control of ground vegetation
- ongoing maintenance (including vegetation management)
- non-commercial thinning/prunning to open up crowns to promote seed production
- maintenance of documented record of specific operations undertaken to enhance seed production
- other related operations, as agreed with Forest Service
There is a fixed grant of 100% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €750/ha, payable in two instalments. The first grant instalment (75%) is payable when works are competed and verified. The second grant instalment of €150/ha will be paid when evidence is submitted that seed has been produced and collected. You will be obliged to maintain the seed stand for 7 years from the date of completion of works.
Multiple stands
You can submit a single application which can be made up of more than one seed stand up to a maximum of 10 individual stands. If you apply for multiple seed stands, the grant payable can be combined across all seed stands regardless of where the costs occur. For example if the application consists of two seed stands of 5 hectares each where the cost incurred in Seed Stand A is €1,000 and in B is €4,250, the total grant payable is €5,250.
Private forest holders can also apply for an additional grant of up to €300 per seed stand to cover the cost of drafting the Forest Management Plan. See the conditions of the scheme .
The scheme is open for applications all year round. To register a new seed stand, or for further information, contact:
Forest Sector Development Division
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Agriculture House
Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Phone: +353 (0) 1 6072683
Email brian.clifford@agriculture.gov.ie
