The Forestry Programme is the main vehicle that the Department uses to encourage the establishment and sustainable management of our forests. There are supports for the creation of new forests, and support for the management and replanting of existing forests.

Afforestation (New Planting)

There are 11 different Forest Types that can be planted by farmers under the new
Forestry Programme. The farmer premium duration has been increased to 20 years
(15 years for non-farmer). The Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS) includes an
establishment and fencing grant as well as an annual premium payment.

Definition of a Farmer

Applicants that pass the Active Farmer check and submit a Basic Income Support for
Sustainability (BISS) application in the forestry application year and
submitted a BISS or Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application in the previous 4
years will be considered a farmer.

New and young farmers will only need to be in BISS or BPS from the year they were approved to either the Young Farmer schemes or the National Reserve schemes.

Applicants of inherited or planned inheritance (gifted) land, will benefit from succession/inheritance rules relating to immediate family members and will be able to fulfil the farmer qualifying criteria.