WIS Element 2 - Agroforestry Maintenance

Introduction

The Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS) Element 2 - Agroforestry Maintenance provides for a fixed agroforestry maintenance grant.

Operations must have the potential to improve the quality and value of the timber, with the sole purpose of producing high quality trees while producing food through agriculture.

Eligible operations

Support will be available for the following operations:

• Production of an Agroforestry Management Plan (see below)
• Removal of tree shelters
• Removal of tree stakes where necessary
• Erection of geotextile mesh to protect trees from livestock browsing, fraying, poaching and rubbing
• Erection of new support stakes
• Formative shaping
• Stumping back or pollarding of trees with poor form, plus singling out the best coppice stems
• Improvement felling of malformed trees and enrichment planting of new trees where necessary
• Pre-thinning tree marking
• High pruning and removal of large branches
• Thinning or re-spacing to promote growth
• Deer management and deer management plan
• Forest protection (fencing and other measures)
• Clearance of invasive species such as laurel and rhododendron
• Costs associated with non-commercial tree felling, where appropriate (e.g. tree felling on highly sensitive parts of the site, where alternative, non-conventional techniques are required, including manual felling in riparian zones)
• Woodland edge management
• Maintenance of open spaces, rides and glades

Please note: an Agroforestry Management Plan must be submitted in support of the application. A template can be found on pages 45-46, Annex 3 of Woodland Improvement Scheme 2023-2027 (PDF).

Grant rates 

Funding 

Funding will be targeted at grant-aided agroforests planted since 2014.

All sites must be capable of supporting vigorous tree growth and sustainable long-term development. This must be achievable without the need for fertiliser input. Sites subject to severe and persistent threats may not be accepted.

Eligibility

• Individuals must be over 18 years of age and hold a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). Companies must provide their company registration details (CRO number).
• Applicants for technical approval must be the owner, leaseholder or joint manager of the land at the time of the application. Exceptions to this rule will only apply where:
  • the owner is deceased, and their legal representative submits the application; or
  • the owner consents in writing to the submission of the application in the name of a designated third party.
• In order to qualify for payment of woodland improvement grants, the applicant must own, lease or be in joint management of the lands proposed for improvement. Applicants must provide documentary evidence of ownership and of leasing or joint management where relevant if requested.
• It is not permitted to apply for more than one Element on the same plot. 

Application procedure

The applicant and a Registered Forester (List of Registered Foresters, PDF) must complete the application form following a site visit and detailed field assessment by the Registered Forester.

Only one element can be selected per application form. Approval is only valid up to and including the expiry date specified in the letter of approval.

Relevant publication

• Woodland Improvement Scheme 2023-2027 (PDF) 

Further information 

Contact your local Teagasc Forestry Adviser