Ireland’s Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan

Through comprehensive public consultation and engagement with stakeholders, a Shared National Vision for trees, woods and forests in Ireland was established for the first time. This collaborative approach in turn helped to shape and develop a new Forest Strategy for Ireland to 2030, which underpins the new Forestry Programme for the period of 2023-2027.

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The Strategy’s overarching objectives are rooted in the three pillars of sustainability - People, Planet and Prosperity. These pillars guide the strategic objectives of this Strategy and aim to make this ambitious shared national vision a reality. The Forest Strategy sets out a clear set of objectives, values and goals for the role of trees and forests in Ireland between now and 2030. A Forest Strategy Implementation Plan (FSIP) was also developed in parallel, to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of this Forest Strategy.

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The Forest Strategy Implementation Plan contains the Forestry Programme 2023-2027, which will be the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy in the immediate to short term. It also contains a detailed Forest Action Plan, which includes the actions for each of the Enablers and Value Area Goals of the Forest Strategy.

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Ireland’s Forest Strategy Implementation Plan sets out how Ireland’s ambitions to expand its forests and to increase its role in helping address the climate and biodiversity objectives at both National and EU level can be realised. The EU Forest Strategy identifies the key principles needed to support the socio-economic functions of forests for thriving rural areas and boosting forest-based bioeconomy within sustainability boundaries. It will also protect, restore, and enlarge the EU’s forests to combat climate change, reverse biodiversity loss and ensure resilient and multifunctional forest ecosystems. Ireland’s Forest Strategy is in alignment with these principles and as such the Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan has been designed with these in mind.

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The Forest Strategy and Implementation Plan along with all Environmental Assessment Reports are available on the Department’s website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/forestry-policy-and-strategy/

State Aid Approval and launch of new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027

The Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 contains a series of eight different interventions:

Forest Creation
Agroforestry
Infrastructure and Technology investments
Sustainable Forest Management
Developing skills and empowering the Forest Sector for Sustainable Forest Management
Open Forests: Social, Cultural and Heritage Forests
Climate Resilient Reforestation
Reconstitution

The schemes offered then flow from each of these interventions and aim to support landowners to plant and manage forests in a manner that will provide benefits for the environment, preserve landscapes, provide social amenities whilst also supporting local economies.

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A package of €1.318 billion has been secured to support this biggest and best funded Forestry Programme to date in Ireland. This will provide unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and help to meet national climate and biodiversity objectives. The target of the programme is to plant 8,000 hectares of new diverse, multifunctional and climate resilient forests per year. Irelands ambitious long term strategy is to increase our national forest estate to 18% cover from a present level of 11.6%.

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Following receipt of State Aid approval from the European Commission, the Government approved the new €1.3 billion Forestry Programme, together with other non-Programme actions under the Forest Strategy Implementation Plan. This is a significant milestone for forestry that will allow for the expansion, protection and development of Ireland’s forests and forestry sector.

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The new Afforestation Scheme for the period 2023-2027 opened for applications in conjunction with Government approval. This afforestation scheme offers a broad range of planting options, with rates up to 46%-66% higher than those contained within the previous Forestry Programme. The premium period has also been extended from 15 to 20 years for farmers.

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The afforestation scheme contains twelve diverse forest types, providing ample choice for farmers and other landowners to plant according to their needs. Within this scheme, the Department covers 100% of the costs to establish the forest, and all payments and earnings are income tax free.

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Planting a mix of trees such as oak, birch and holly for example, will guarantee more than €1,100/ha in annual payments for 20 years when established successfully. Similarly, a well-managed mixed high forest of mainly spruce with broadleaves delivers an annual payment of €746 for 20 years, as well as providing an income from harvested wood when the forest matures.

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Alternatively, livestock can be kept on the land with an agroforestry scheme that features €975/ha payments for 10 years. Top ups are also available for certain forest types, e.g. the Woodland Environmental Fund includes a one off payment of €1,000/ha once planting is complete.

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Planting a forest does not affect entitlements under CAP and applicants may continue to claim the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme on forested land, subject to the terms and conditions of the BISS Scheme.