I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together.
All applications for the planting of forests and for support schemes such as Native Woodland Conservation Scheme under the National Forestry Programme must be submitted by a registered forester. The Department compiles a list of Registered Foresters once they meet the criteria for registration, which is to hold at a minimum, an ordinary bachelor’s degree in forestry, (National Framework of Qualifications Level 7). It is envisaged that the same condition would apply to schemes under the successor to the current Forestry Programme (extended to end 2022) which will be delivered entirely separately from the CAP Strategic Plan.
Under the Forestry Act 2014, a forest is defined as an area of at least 0.1 hectare in size and a tree crown cover of more than 20% of the total area, or the potential to achieve this cover at maturity.
In terms of Eco-Schemes, these are being proposed for the first time as part of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and will be funded from within Pillar 1 of the CAP budget. Eco-schemes are mandatory for Member States but voluntary for farmers. From January 2023 onwards, for the duration of the next CAP, the Eco-Scheme will be implemented annually in Ireland, with active farmers having the opportunity to opt in or out on an annual basis. The purpose of this scheme is to provide additional direct income support to farmers for undertaking agricultural practices beneficial to the climate, environment and biodiversity. Farmers will be able to apply for the Eco-Scheme at the same time as their BISS application and it will not be mandatory for a farmer to engage an appropriately trained agricultural advisor to either apply for or comply with the Eco scheme.
Farmers can, of course, avail of the services of appropriately trained agricultural advisors or foresters in applying for or complying with the requirements of the Eco-scheme if they so wish.
With regard to the new multi-annual Agri-Environment Scheme which will also be included under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, it is proposed that under this scheme farmers will have the option to plant trees and/or hedges. It is proposed that it will be mandatory for applicants to avail of the services of appropriately trained agricultural advisors in applying for and complying with the requirements of this scheme. It will also be open to scheme applicants to avail of additional professional services if they wish to do so.
