Arbor Forest Management welcomes the proposed new forestry programme which was launched this week by The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Senator Pippa Hackett and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD.

Not only has there been an increase in the premium payments available to landowners, but the premium period has been extended from 15 years to 20 years for farmers. Premiums, ranging from €746 per hectare to €1,142 per hectare, are now available for 12 new Forest Types.

John Roche of Arbor Forest Management said:

“This announcement is very welcome and is a huge boost to the forestry sector. The new grants and premiums make afforestation very attractive once again, and the new road grants will assist existing forest owners in creating access into their forests. At a time of high timber prices, it’s vital that owners can access their forests to carry out thinning and felling.”

A full breakdown of the new premium rates can be found in the table below –

FT Forest Types Proposed Annual Premium /ha* Proposed Duration of Premiums for farmers Proposed Duration of Premiums for non-farmers
FT1 Native Forests €1,103 20 15
FT2 Forests for Water €1,142 20 15
FT3 Forests on Public Lands N/A N/A N/A
FT4 NeighbourWoods €1,142 20 15
FT5 Emergent Forest €350 20 15
FT6 Broadleaf, mainly oak €1,037 20 15
FT7 Other Broadleaf €973 20 15
FT8 Agroforestry €975 10 10
FT9 Seed Orchards €1,142 20 15
FT10 Continuous Cover Forestry €912 20 15
FT11 Mixed High Forests: Conifer, 20% broadleaves €863 20 15
FT12 Mixed High Forests with mainly spruce, 20% broadleaves €746 20 15

*These figures are correct as January 2023

John Roche, William Merivale and Alan Egan