DAFM to pay farmers €1,200 for forest management plans
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has committed to paying €1,200 for every forest management plan produced on a new online system which is being launched today (Thursday, November 27), according to Irish Forest Owners (IFO).
IPLAN, the new online platform for foresters to produce Forest Management Plans (FMPs), is “a game changer”, according to Kathleen Lucey, the group certification manager for the Irish Forest Owners.
Her comments follow a preview of IPLAN at the Forest Service offices at Johnstown Castle ahead of its publication this afternoon.
"Forest Management Plans are the key first step to forest certification. IPLAN makes it easier for foresters to produce comprehensive management plans suitable for the certification process," she said.
"And the department's commitment to pay €1,200 for every plan produced on the system is expected to cover costs for most farm forests."
IFO has been pioneering the certification of private forests in Ireland. Its group certification scheme has been operating since 2018 and is expected to expand rapidly as a result of recent promotional campaign.
"With a requirement for 70% certified timber at sawmills and reduced output projected in Coillte woodlands in coming years, it is now more important than ever that private forest owners get certified; in fact, for those approaching clearfell, it is vital," Lucey continued.
"The FSC/PEFC stamp is found on thousands of everyday items from food packaging to toilet rolls. Every savvy manufacturer wants to stress its environmental credentials.
"The demand for certified timber products is growing. IPLAN will help IFO and forest owners meet this demand more rapidly.
"By working together through the IFO Group Certification Scheme, forest owners can achieve forest certification in a way that is practical, affordable and supported every step of the way. IPLAN will be a big help," she concluded.
The digital platform is designed to empower forest owners and their foresters to efficiently create and manage detailed Forest Management Plans.
Launching the scheme, Minister Healy-Rae said: “I am delighted to be offering this new iPLAN scheme, which I believe is a significant step towards modernising the forestry sector. It is an accessible, user-friendly tool to manage and ensure the long-term sustainable health and economic viability of Ireland’s forests.”
The iPLAN scheme will promote more active forest management, resulting in forests that have greater capacity to deliver eco-system services, climate resilience, roundwood value and forest health vitality than those that are not subject to forest management planning practices.
iPLAN will also encourage the greater mobilisation of timber by promoting greater planning of forest road works and harvesting activities, such as on-time thinning and harvest management.
The minister said: “iPLAN is part of a wider plan to enable and facilitate private forest owners to access forest certification.
"In this regard I am appointing a board to oversee the establishment of a Group Forest Certification Scheme and to set out a pathway to achieve group certification for the majority of forest owners that are still not certified.”
