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
