National Forestry Programme

Introduction

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provides grants to create new forests and to support owners of existing forests.
The Afforestation Scheme supports the creation of a wide range of forests with varying objectives.
An afforestation licence will be required.

Both farmers and non-farmers can apply.

Under the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027, grant funding will be made available by DAFM for measures relating to the establishment of new forests, such as planting, plant protection (e.g. fencing) and maintenance. In addition, private landowners can avail of an annual premium payment.

See Teagasc website for an overview of forest establishment grant rates under the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027.

The below outlines of the range of Forest Types under the Forestry Programme link directly to the relevant pages on the Teagasc website.

Brief Overview of Forest Establishment Schemes by Type

Native Forests - Forest Type 1 (FT1)

The aim of Forest Type 1 – Native Forests is to create new native forests on ‘green field’ sites focusing on the planting of native tree species, minimal site disturbance and long-term ‘close-to-nature’ management.

Forests for Water - Forest Type 2 (FT2)

The aim of Forest Type 2 – Forests for Water incentivises the targeted planting of native forests by private landowners to protect a range of identified vulnerable and/or ecologically important waterbodies.

Forests on Public Lands - Forest Type 3 (FT3)

The aim of Forest Type 3 – Forests on Public Lands is to conserve nature by promoting the establishment of permanent, non-commercial native woodlands on public land which are capable of delivering a wide range of ecosystem services.

NeighbourWoods - Forest Type 4 (FT4)

The aim of Forest Type 4 – NeighbourWoods is to support the creation of new woodlands and woodland-based amenities for local communities to use and enjoy. It helps local authorities and other landowners, both public and private, to create ‘close-to-home’ woodland amenities in partnership with neighbouring communities.

Emergent Forests - Forest Type 5 (FT5)

The aim of Forest Type 5 – Emergent Forests is to provide support for the retention and appropriate management of suitable areas of ‘scrub’. These areas represent an important biodiversity feature with the potential for delivering many ecosystem services.

Pure Broadleaves - Oak or Beech - Forest Type 6 (FT6)

The aim of Forest Type 6 – Pure Broadleaves – oak or beech is to produce quality hardwood timber.

Other broadleaves - Forest Type 7 (FT7)

The aim of Forest Type 7 – Other broadleaves is to produce quality hardwood timber (other than oak or beech).

Agroforestry - Forest Type 8 (FT8)

The aim of Forest Type 8 – Agroforestry is to provide support for agroforestry and food forests. This will facilitate landowners in planting land with trees and continuing to produce food through agriculture.

Silvopastoral (trees and grass), silvoarable (trees and crops) and forest gardening (establishment of small-scale food forests) systems are supported

Seed Orchards - Forest Type 9 (FT9)

The aim of Forest Type 9 – Seed Orchards is to increase the availability and quality of forest tree seed through supporting the establishment of new seed orchards and seed production areas.

Continuous Cover Forestry - Forest Type 10 (FT10)

The aim of Forest Type 10 – Continuous Cover Forestry is to create production forests which are suitably structured to be managed as continuous cover forests from establishment.

This silvicultural system improves biodiversity, soil and water quality and the landscape of the forest, while also increasing its climate change resilience to biotic and abiotic challenges while storing carbon in the forest for perpetuity.

Mixed High Forests with conifers and 20% broadleaves - Forest Type 11 (FT11)

The aim of Forest Type 11 – Mixed High Forests with conifers and broadleaves is to create production forests with conifer species such as Norway spruce, Scots pine or Douglas fir and 20% broadleaf species such as birch and alder.

Mixed High Forests with mainly spruce and 20% broadleaves - Forest Type 12 (FT12)

The aim of Forest Type 12 – Mixed High Forests with spruce and broadleaves is to create production forests with Sitka spruce and 20% broadleaf species such as birch and alder.

Grant & Premium Rates and Details of 'Forest Creation' Schemes by Type

The table below gives an overview of the proposed forest creation measures by Forest Type (FT).

NOTE that forest recreation, or Afforestation, is a licenced forestry activity in accordance with the Forestry Act 2014, which determines that an Afforestation Licence is required for all afforestation projects where the area involved is greater than 0.10 hectares (approximately 0.25 acres) .

Other licenced forestry operations are roading, felling and aerial fertilisation.

Talk to a registered forester to find out what afforestation or forest creation scheme (Forest Type) would be most suitable to your needs (owner objectives) and most suitable to the land you own. Not all forest creation schemes are suitable to all land types and the choice of scheme should be determined by the owner’s objectives and the site suitability.