Native Tree Scheme Makes It Easier To Plant Trees

If you’re a farmer looking to generate extra income, the Native Tree Area Scheme (NTAS) is a great opportunity to earn up to €44,900 over 10 years.

Planting a forest can be a valuable long-term investment. The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) covers 100% of the establishment costs, all annual premium payments are income tax-free, and you can continue to claim the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) on your forested land.

The NTAS encourage small-scale tree planting up to 2ha, without requiring an afforestation license, making it a practical and convenient choice for farmers.

Whether you want to support biodiversity, protect water quality or help meet Ireland’s climate goals, the scheme offers the ideal combination of flexibility and financial support.

Native Tree Area Scheme

One of the key benefits of the NTAS is its ease of access. You can plant an area as small as 0.1 hectares using a very simple approval process which, on average, takes less than six weeks, allowing you to get started quickly.

The scheme offers two options:

1. Creation of Small Native Forests (NTA 1):
This option supports the planting of up to 1 hectare of native forests on farmland, helping to combat climate change and promote biodiversity.

2. Creation of Native Forests for Water Protection (NTA 2):
NTA 2 focuses on the planting of up to 1 hectare of trees near water bodies, in order to protect water quality and ecosystems, prevent soil erosion and reconnect native habitats.

Financial Support

The NTAS provides grants and premiums to cover the costs of planting and maintaining these forests.

Grants are paid in two instalments under each of NTA1 and NTA2 – you can receive up to €5,058 for the first instalment and €1,686 for the second.

Annual premiums are also available, with NTA 1 offering €2,206/ha each year for up to 10 years, and NTA 2 offering €2,284/ha. Over a 10-year period, these income tax-free premiums amount to €22,060 and €22,840, respectively.

An especially attractive aspect of the Scheme is that a landowner can plant both NTA1 and NTA2 (where suitable water bodies are present). This combination could yield up to €44,900 over 10 years.

How To Get Started

To begin, contact your local farm advisor, a Teagasc Forestry Advisor, or a registered forester.

They will help to determine whether your land is suitable*, and will assist with the application.

Your forester will handle the paperwork and once approved, you can start planting. After planting, you can apply for your annual forestry premium via agfood.ie.

Next Steps

By planting a forest, you’re not only diversifying your farming activities and generating extra income – you’re also contributing to a more sustainable future.

Whether your focus is on climate change, biodiversity or water protection, the NTAS makes it easy to take that first step.

For more information, contact the Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Approvals Section, at 053 916 3400, or email forestryinfo@agriculture.gov.ie.

*The scheme is designed to ensure that all tree planting works are undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner, and for this reason some lands are not eligible for inclusion in the scheme (e.g. organic soils and areas above 200m in elevation). Even if you don’t fit the criteria for NTAS, lands may be considered for planting under the other forest creation options of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.

This post is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Marine

(Source -Agriland – Agriland Team – 19/10/2024)

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