TheMinister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, SenatorPippa Hackett, has today announced the opening of the Native Tree Area Schemeunder Ireland’s new 2023-2027 Forestry Programme.
The Minister stated: “I amdelighted to announce the opening of the Native Tree Area Scheme today here atAvondale House, the home of Irish forestry. This scheme will allow farmers toplant up to a hectare of native woodland without the need for a licence, or upto two hectares if they have a suitable watercourse along which to plant ariparian small-scale native woodland. This is something I have worked hard tointroduce as part of the new Forestry Programme, and it will deliver on theProgramme for Government commitment to incentivise small-scale tree-planting tohelp to re-engage farmers with forestry. Key to the success of increasingafforestation rates is to build confidence among farmers of the benefits offorestry as a viable option to complement their existing farm enterprises.
The Minister confirmedthat, in line with the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare and ForestryAct 2022, her Department has provided for the scheme by Regulation, which wassigned into law on the 28th September 2023. She also confirmed thattwo different options will be available to applicants:
The extent of the area thatcan be created under this Scheme is limited to 2 hectares per farm holding forthe duration of the scheme. Both farmers and non-farmers may avail of supportunder the scheme. Support will take the form of an establishment grant andannual premium payments over a ten-year period, totalling €22,060 per hectarefor NTA 1 and €22,840 per hectare for NTA 2.
The Minister added:
“The scheme was finalisedfollowing the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment andAppropriate Assessment. Eligibility criteria are incorporated into the schemeto ensure that all tree planting works are undertaken in a legally compliantand sustainable manner.”
The Minister emphasised:
“A scheme eligibility maphas been prepared, detailing the location of approximately 3.1 million hectaresof land that will be eligible to join the scheme. Not all agricultural land wasdeemed to be eligible for the NTAS due to the land not being suited to nativeforest establishment (such as areas at high elevation) or the presence ofenvironmental sensitivities (such as NATURA 2000 designated areas). If someonewho is interested in the Native Tree Area Scheme finds that their land isn’teligible for tree planting without a licence, I would encourage them to talk toTeagasc or their registered forester about the options that are open to themthrough the Forestry Programme under the normal licensing process.”
The Minister concluded:
“This scheme has beendesigned to have a straightforward approval process, which means that it is nowopen for new native forests to be planted before the end of 2023 under thisscheme. I look forward to significant take-up on farms across the country overthe coming months.”
4 October 2023
Note to the Editor:
The Native Tree Area Scheme(NTAS) has been designed to avoid or minimise potential impacts from the outsetusing the best available information and by applying pre-emptive measures.These generic measures are mandatory in nature for all areas to be included inthe Scheme.
The input of forestersregistered with the Department will be required to ensure the eligibilitycriteria associated with scheme Terms and Conditions are adhered to. Thesuccessful establishment of these native forests will require the know-how ofregistered foresters to ensure these forests are correctly sited and managed tofree-growing stage.
To allow for the creationof forests without an afforestation licence, changes were introduced as part ofthe Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022.The changes allow the Minister to make Regulations to facilitate small-scaleplanting of native forests as part of a scheme by removing the requirement foran afforestation licence.
Scheme Details are available here
Tofind out more, please contact us.
www.EuroforestIreland.ie www.Ashdieback.ie www.ForestryServices.ie
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