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The Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Mary
Wallace TD, has announced a number of significant changes
to the Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS).
The changes follow a full review of the pilot scheme which
was launched in 2007 and detailed discussions with the various
stakeholders. There is good news for both holders of smaller
REPS farms and for holders of larger REPS farms - both of
whom will find new incentives to plant under FEPS.
Under the new terms, a landowner will receive a FEPS premium
of €200 for each hectare of woodland planted - regardless
of farm size - subject to a minimum of eight hectares being
planted. For owners of farms of 30 hectares and less, the
minimum plantation size has been reduced to five hectares,
attracting a corresponding FEPS premium of €150 per hectare
for plantations between five and eight hectares in size.
The FEPS premium is payable in addition to the existing Afforestation
Scheme grants and premium - meaning that a farmer planting
eight hectares could, for the duration of FEPS, earn an annual
tax-free forestry premium of up to €6,000 without affecting
his/her Single Payment.
Minister Wallace said she was very pleased to be able to
deliver this package. It represents an exciting development
in the Government's commitment to forestry as a positive force
in the areas of climate change, rural development and agri-environment
and follows a specific commitment to fully roll-out FEPS in
the Programme for Government.
The Minister said - "The FEPS pilot
in 2007 demonstrated the considerable appetite that exists
amongst active farmers for planting trees. We watched with
interest the profile of farmers who did and didn't plant under
FEPS. We could see that there was good scope for additional
planting on larger REPS farms, but the degressive premium
under the FEPS pilot was off-putting - I have addressed that
now.
"We also saw how difficult it could
be for REPS farmers with smaller holdings - particularly in
counties such as Mayo - to present 8 hectares for planting.
I have also remedied this and will accept plantations of 5
hectares from this group now."
The changes come into immediate effect. The Minister said
she believed this would be a major boost to the planting programme
and she urged farmers to look afresh at the opportunities
for planting part of their land. "Demand
for timber has never been higher and thousands of farmers
are, now, literally reaping the rewards of planting"
- Minister Wallace said. "Forests bring options for farmers
and those who think seriously about the future should think
seriously about planting."
The Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) was designed
to complement the existing Afforestation Grant and Premium
Scheme and provides incentives for landowners to combine the
establishment of high nature-value woodland with their participation
in REPS.
The scheme focuses on the creation of woodlands that can
contribute more to landscape character, biodiversity enhancement,
the retention of local habitats, promotion of native species,
protection of water quality and further protection of our
archaeological resource through a variety of silvicultural,
biodiversity and other measures.
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