The Forestry Programme 2023–2027 is the Irish Government’s main funding programme to support tree planting, forest management, and the expansion of Ireland’s forest resource between 2023 and 2027. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and forms part of the wider Forest Strategy 2023–2030. The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 was launched late in 2023, with the first measures being released in September 2023. The programme supports several different “Forest Types” (FT), ranging from native woodlands to agroforestry. Some of the elements relevant to native woodlands in Ireland are outlined below. Please note that the Department Forestry Programme 2023-2027 Midterm Review Report of March 2026 has determined amendments to some of the schemes below.
Forestry Programme 2023–2027 Documents:
The Forestry Programme is divided into Forestry Creation Grants and Existing Forest Owner grants, you can access all the documents on the Forest Service of DAFM website – Click to Download. Please see an overview and a short description of the main schemes that relate to native woodland. Under the Afforestation scheme, there are 14 different Forest Types (FT) catered for, including Native forests, Emergent Forest, Forests for water, Broadleaf, mainly oak and beech, Agroforestry and Seed Orchards, to name a few.
Forestry Creation Grants:
- Afforestation Scheme – The Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 provides financial support to encourage the planting of trees on land not previously under forest.
- Native Tree Area Scheme – The Native Tree Area Scheme (NTAS) allows farmers and landowners to create small-scale native forests (under 1 hectare) without needing an afforestation licence.
- Native Woodland Intervention for Remediation of Industrial Cutover Peatlands – Pilot Scheme 2024-2027 – This Pilot Scheme will facilitate native woodland regeneration at landscape scale, aiming at minimum intervention, and is compatible with other forms of peatland restoration measures at this scale.
- Woodland Environmental Fund – Farmers and other landowners interested in planting native woodlands may opt into the Woodland Environmental Fund as part of their native forest afforestation application. An individual business can then decide to support a particular project that best fits its requirements and available resources, through engagement with a Woodland Environmental Fund Facilitator.
- Scenario 6, planting of Alluvial Woodland (planting near streams, rivers and floodplains), as part of FT1 Native Woodland Planting – Not yet open.
- Silvoarable pilot – Not yet open.
Forestry Support Grants for Existing Forest Owners:
- NeighbourWood Scheme – The overall objective of the NeighbourWood Scheme is to develop attractive, easily-accessible local woodlands for the recreational use and enjoyment by communities in both urban and rural parts of Ireland.
- Native Woodland Conservation Scheme – The NWC scheme promotes the appropriate restoration of existing native woodland, through the provision of financial support to forest owners towards the cost of appropriate works.
- Woodland Improvement Scheme 2023-2027 – The WIS and its 5 different elements give existing forest owners a wide range of support options to sustainably manage the potential of their forests to fulfil current and future relevant demands for wood and non-wood products.
- Deer Tree Shelter, Hare and Deer Fencing Scheme – Provides financial support to protect young trees from deer and hare damage. It funds protective measures like individual tree shelters and boundary fencing for new plantations or existing forests
- Innovative Forest Technology Scheme – Module 2: Investment Aid for the Development of the Forest Tree Nursery Sector 2023-2027 – The measure, which consists of 5 modules, will support private forest holders, producer groups and forestry contractors, seed collectors and forest nurseries (or those wishing to enter the forestry nursery sector) to procure and develop innovative technologies for use in the private forest sector in Ireland.
- Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 and Climate Action Performance Payment Scheme – Provides financial support for Irish forest owners to clear, site-prepare, and replant ash plantations affected by Chalara fraxinea (ash dieback).
- Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme – The overall objective of this Scheme is to increase the climate resilience of the national forest estate by expanding the proportion of forest land managed under permanent forest cover using close to nature silviculture.
Native Woodland Conservation Scheme Training
Native Woodland Conservation Training Courses are held periodically by the Forest Service of DAFM in association with Woodlands of Ireland for landowners, stakeholders (i.e. statutory agency staff, nursery owners, environmental NGOs and interested individuals) and Native Woodland Conservation Scheme (NWC) practitioners (i.e. foresters, ecologists and woodland contractors). Training can entail 2-day courses that encompass a broad range of management, ecological and silvicultural topics specific to Native Woodland Conservation. The 2-day course is also a requirement for NWC foresters and ecologists to attend in order to receive accreditation to work on the NWC contracts. Please see an updated directory of registered DAFM approved Foresters and Ecologists, note the foresters that are eligible to work on NWC contracts have a box ticked on the available registered list from DAFM. Please see Native Woodland Information Notes as supporting literature to the NWC.
If you would like to be added to the waiting list for upcoming NWC training courses, please email info@woodlandsofireland.com with your name, location and contact number.