DAFM: €1.6m in funding awarded to forestry promotion projects
A total of 42 projects are to receive funding of €1.6 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) for forestry promotion projects.
Minister of State, Pippa Hackett, with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, said the funding boost follows an open call for proposals for promotion projects in September "to raise the profile of forestry as a public good and a commercially viable enterprise".
According to Minister Hackett more than 53 applications were submitted and out of these 42 projects have now been selected for funding of €1.6 million over the next year.
The minister said that the successful applications were "weighted in favour of projects with a particular focus on engaging with farmers, existing forest owners and other landowners".
Minister Hackett added: “I am delighted to see such a broad range of inspiring projects aimed at promoting the new Forestry Programme and I am particularly pleased at the spread of projects throughout the country.
"I hope this €1.6 million funding will boost the profile of forestry and encourage every farmer to explore the range of planting options available in the new Forestry Programme.
"I am also glad to note that many of the projects involve collaboration between organisations and groups and cover a wide range of topics from afforestation, sustainable forest management, ecosystem services, Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) and the promotion of careers in forestry".
According to DAFM the projects will cover a number of themes which include the promotion of "the benefits of increased use of timber products in construction and design" and also the "multi-functional benefits of trees and forests".
The full list of successful projects and the amount awarded include:
| Name of Group | Project | Location | Total Budget |
| Irish Agroforestry Forum | Agroforestry Innovation, Education and Promotion Phase 2 | Nationwide | €100,000 |
| Western Forestry Co-operative Society Limited | Woodland Creation Open Days | Leitrim | €26,390 |
| Pro Silva Ireland | FT10: CCF Forest Establishment Design Workshops and webinar | Nationwide | €24,410 |
| Western Forestry Co-operative Society Limited | Native Tree Area Scheme Promotion Project | Leitrim | €32,850 |
| Western Forestry Co-operative Society Limited | Woodland Festival – Come See the Wood from the Trees | Leitrim | €101,125 |
| Irish Timber Growers Association in association with Lindave Forestry | Promoting Afforestation and benefits of forestry through YouTube Interviews | Nationwide | €23,975 |
| Irish Timber Growers Association | ITGA Information Projects | Nationwide | €116,031 |
| Trinity College Dublin & NXTGENWOOD | NXTGENWOOD - Thesis in Trees | Nationwide | €3,746 |
| Dawn Media | Forests for Farms and Communities | Nationwide | €28,536 |
| Ray Ó Foghlú, ODYSEA Design & SeaWater Media | Farm Forest Series 2 | Nationwide | €50,000 |
| Forest Industries Ireland | To summarise key policies, strategies, regulatory and funding supports available in other jurisdictions that encourage and support the use of wood in construction. | Nationwide | €12,435 |
| Hometree CLG | Hometree Theme 1 Forestry Promotion | Clare | €70,000 |
| Biodiversity Partners | Forest Connections 2024 | Kerry | €12,860 |
| Irish Forest Owners | Public Field events to promote and educate on commercial farm forestry | Nationwide | €56,040 |
| Drima Marketing | ABC (Awareness, Benefits & Carbon) Timber | Nationwide | €133,820 |
| Society of Irish Foresters | Forests for Everyone | Nationwide | €30,440 |
| Trinity College Dublin & NXTGENWOOD | NXTGENWOOD - UniPlant | Nationwide | €4,159 |
| Commercial Forestry Services Ltd. (CFS Ltd.) | Support for Forest Certification and Sustainable Forest Management through revising & updating the Group Certification website groupcertification.ie | Nationwide | €18,421 |
| Irish Wood Producers | Celebrating Irish Woodlands | Nationwide | €68,978 |
| Pro Silva Ireland | Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland - Field Guide | Nationwide | €47,000 |
| Pro Silva Ireland | Expanded Continuous Cover Forestry Field Workshops | Nationwide | €30,750 |
| Pro Silva Ireland | Young Forester Field Workshop Pilot | Nationwide | €6,559 |
| LEAF Ireland, An Taisce | Learning about Forests | Nationwide | €40,000 |
| People for Trees (Ireland) Ltd. t/a Crann (Crann – Trees for Ireland) | “Crann Projects - promoting the multifunctional benefits of trees and forestry | Nationwide | €65,000 |
| Rotary Ireland | Achieving Net Zero with Forests and Wood – Rotary Ireland Third Level Student Environment Award | Nationwide | €17,118 |
| Irish Timber Growers Association in association with Irish Forestry Unit Trust | ITGA -IForUT Woodland Walks | Offaly | €7,995 |
| Coillte | Our Forests Our Future | Nationwide | €64,944 |
| Mike Carswell | Introduction to coppice silvicultural systems design and management. | Nationwide | €6,750 |
| Hometree CLG | Hometree Forestry Promotion Project Theme 4 - Changing Landscapes | Clare | €25,159 |
| The North East Forestry Group | Outdoor Forestry/Timber production classroom for 2nd level students | Meath/Louth/Cavan/Monaghan | €34,800 |
| CELT (CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LIVING & TRAINING) | CELT Awareness-raising programme 2023 - 24: The Multifunctional role of trees in the landscape - climate, biodiversity, cultural, health and well being benefits | Nationwide | €20,000 |
| Crann, Trees for Ireland – Easy Treesie Project | Easy Treesie – Crann, Trees for Ireland Community Tree, Woodland and Forestry Promotion Project | Nationwide | €24,000 |
| Farm TV Harry Hill | Production of Audio Visual Content for the Promotion of Forestry in Ireland | Nationwide | €18,023 |
| Farm TV Harry Hill | Farm TV – Forestry Promotional and Educational Campaign | Nationwide | €63,823 |
| Irish Forest Owners | Adding value to our hardwoods | Nationwide | €40,000 |
| The Woodland League | Great Forest of Aughty Woodland and Agroforestry Social, Economic and Ecological Benefits for resilient rural communities | Clare/Limerick/Galway | €21,400 |
| Lisa Macleod Young Roots | Farm to Forest Bridging land and woodland by Young Roots | Nationwide | €32,010 |
| Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA | 4 ACA Open farmer events and the development of an A-Z of forestry for use by ACA and all farmer clients | Nationwide | €20,000 |
| Woodlands of Ireland | Woodlands of Ireland Project | Nationwide | €60,949 |
| The Acorn Project | Fite Fuaite Grove Guardians | Nationwide | €10,000 |
| Native Events and The Nature Trust | Acorn Gathering | Nationwide | €30,750 |
| Beta Bajgart and Catherine Cleary | The Forest Midwife | Nationwide | €43,696 |
| Total | €1,644,942 |
