Open Call for Forestry Promotion Projects in Ireland

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is built around the principle of the right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management. It aims to deliver more diverse forests which will meet multiple societal objectives, economic, social and environmental.

The Forestry Programme provides funding to the forestry sector in Ireland and consists of a number of measures aimed at the following:

• increasing the level of forest cover,
• increasing the supply of forest-based biomass,
• supporting private forest holders in actively managing their forests, and
• enhancing the environmental and social benefits of new and existing forests

Objective

• The Forestry Programme seeks to position forestry as a complimentary farm enterprise, aligned with other agricultural schemes and activities and with the principle of sustainable forest management at its core.
• The main priority is to increase afforestation in a sustainable manner to realise the many benefits of current and new forests. It is also clear that there is a significant challenge to afforest the 8,000 ha per year target set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan. A coordinated approach is required to demonstrate the multiple benefits of forests to landowners and farmers to increase participation and uptake of the afforestation programme.

Themes

• Theme 1: Afforestation promotion schemes with a particular focus on engaging with farmers, existing forest owners and other landowners
• Theme 2: Promotion of the benefits of increased use of timber products in construction and design, in the context of climate action and the bioeconomy.
• Theme 3: Sustainable forest management schemes and climate resilience building that promotes the multi-functional benefits of trees and forests including for eco-system services, bioenergy, forestry career opportunities, forest for people and general wellness.

Delivery Period

• Delivery of the proposed actions and materials should fall within the period from May 2025 to 31/05/2026.

Terms and Conditions

• Assets funded under this call for proposals will be owned by the Department and may be made available to other entities within the Sector.
• Proposals must not replace actions that are currently taking place without State funding or can be considered part of normal business practice e.g. advertising, attendance at agricultural shows or other marketing actions. Actions must have the potential to benefit the sector as a whole and must be additional to what is already being undertaken. Any project results must be made available to the public.
• All grant funding will be subject to the conditions set out in Circular 13/2014 issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) in relation to the provision of grant funding to all bodies. This means that all grants or grant installments will be paid on the basis of vouched expenditure only. No advance payment of grants or installments will be possible and applicants must take this into account in proposing projects for funding.
• The extent to which proposals will be funded will depend on the budget available at a given time. Not all proposals that have been submitted, evaluated or have exceeded the minimum threshold of 65 marks will be funded. Confirmation of funding will be formally notified in writing.
• Applicants can only make one submission under each theme.

For more information, visit gov.ie.