More than 40,000 farmers are being encouraged to convert part of their land to forestry to boost their incomes and rural employment, under a new campaign launched today.
The National Forest Strategy is aiming to cover 17 per cent of the Republic with forest by 2030 as Ireland currently has the lowest level of forestry among the 25 EU States.
Mary Wallace, Minister of State for Forestry, said: "While forest cover has increased substantially over the past 15 years, Ireland still has the lowest level of forestry in the 25 EU member states.
"Just 10 per cent of our land area is under trees, compared to 38 per cent for the EU as a whole. The National Forest Strategy has set a target of 17 per cent forest cover by 2030 and this campaign aims to re-invigorate planting in order to ensure that this target is met."
Ms Wallace said the campaign was particularly aimed at low-income drystock farmers, part-time farmers and those who have low Single Farm Payment entitlements.
The minister said concessions allowing farmers to plant up to 50 per cent of their farms while still retaining their full EU Single Farm Payment offered people an opportunity to significantly boost their income.
"A unique advantage of forestry is that the entire cost of planting is covered by state grants. There are also grants to cover pruning, shaping and forest roads as well as annual premiums of up to €499 per hectare, tax-free," she said. Ms Wallace said the timber crop can yield €15,000 a hectare tax-free.
"Few other land uses offer such a return, making forestry a 'must-consider' option," she said.
Farmers and landowners now account for 0.3 million of the 0.7 million hectares of the national forest estate.
George McCarthy, chairman of the Irish Forest Industry Chain, said over 90 per cent of the 140,000 hectares of forestry planed since 1996 is owned by farmers and landowners.
"This 300,000 hectares of private forestry is owned by 14,000 farmers and landowners. At an estimated potential harvested value of €15,000 per hectare, this is a vital future income source and pension fund for these farmers and their families," he said.
"Achieving the afforestation target set in the National Forest Strategy will create a sustainable supply of raw material that will enable the sawmilling and timber processing sectors to continue to invest and become internationally competitive."
Mr McCarthy said a move towards renewable energy will result in increased demand for forest thinnings as substitutes for oil and gas. Highlighting its environmentally-friendly factors, he said forestry can play a major role in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions by storing carbon which could reduce fines under the Kyoto Protocol.
PA