Green Belt’s investment objective is to acquire c.2,400 hectares of forestry land in Panama and to develop teak plantations over the next 5 years, targeting compounded returns of 7%-8% per annum.

Based on the Promoter’s previous experience in Panama it is anticipated that the project will exit between years 8 and 10 targeting a year 8 return of €1.75 million on an investment of €1.0 million (pre-tax). This is equivalent to a return (including initial capital) of €87,500 from the minimum investment amount of €50,000.

Green Belt are currently raising funds for the first investment vehicle and if you would like to discuss this opportunity contact Maurice Ryan on maurice@greenbelt.ie or 087 675 3097

By Elaine Loughlin, Irish Examiner, Political Correspondent

All farmers will have to plant a portion of their land with trees if Ireland is to avoid multimillion-euro fines, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has suggested.

Mr Creed said farmers need to “get over” the perception that they are “throwing in the towel” if they plant forestry on their land.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Creed warned that Ireland is failing on its climate change targets and will face significant fines by 2030 if farmers do not play their part and afforestation is not significantly ramped up.

Despite lucrative annual payments for those who plant forestry on their land, the National Afforestation Programme is significantly failing to meet its target to plant 10,000 hectares of forestry per year.

There are very few farm holdings that could not provide some level of afforestation,” said Mr Creed.

He acknowledged that for many, planting land with trees can be “very emotional”, adding that “the perception in some quarters is of throwing in the towel if you plant the land”.

“This is a difficult message, but it is a truism — afforestation is a legitimate enterprise and it delivers in terms of our climate change obligations,” said Mr Creed.

“It delivers very valuable employment, at planting, at thinning, at timber processing. It is not looked upon in the way it is in Ireland in any other country that I am aware of.

In other countries, it is seen as another legitimate farm enterprise, it’s another crop. We need to work on the messaging here. I don’t consider it a failure.

“Most of the challenges farmers face are income-related and I think they need to be aware of the income opportunities that exist with forestry, it is a tax-free income for 15 years.

“It will deliver results, certainly on marginal land, far beyond anything that other enterprises would deliver on those lands.”

However, Mr Creed said we cannot simply “dump the obligation of afforestation on any particular geographic location”.

The Government’s Forestry Programme 2014-20 encourages farmers to plant trees by providing 100% establishment grants and 15 years of annual forest premiums.

Despite this incentive, Ireland has the lowest forest cover of all European countries at only 11%. While the Government has been pushing to increase this, last year it missed its target of planting more than 7,000ha by over 20%.

The Climate Change Advisory Council has said Ireland is now “completely off course” in its efforts to meet goals on climate change.

In its annual review for 2018, submitted to the Government last month, the council found that instead of achieving the required reduction of 1m tonnes per year in carbon dioxide emissions — in line with the national policy position — Ireland is currently increasing emissions at a rate of 2m tonnes per year.

Pointing to the excessively wet winter, followed by drought conditions this summer, Mr Creed said that farmers will now have to play their part in climate change measures.

What’s abundantly clear now in the next iteration of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is that there will be a far greater degree of conditionality on payments that farmers are getting on environmental sustainability criteria, and it will also be on verifiable outcomes,” he said.

“Whether you agree or disagree with that, it is abundantly clear that the next CAP will have a greener hue to it than the current one. Do I think that’s right? I do.

“I think every farmer will have to do more. Because the alternative is so unacceptable in the sense that whatever resources the State has I would rather we are pumping them into agriculture rather than paying fines.”

Green Belt has increased its harvesting activities across the whole country. This has resulted in improved logistical structures and broader markets. All of this improves the prices earned from early harvesting for our clients. A very positive development and another excellent service delivery from Green Belt.

Contact us to arrange harvesting for your forestry. Green Belt will arrange the licence for harvesting, roading infrastructure and a full marketing and analysis of harvesting operations on your behalf. Our team of professional foresters are fully experienced in managing the entire process.

Green Belt hosted 56 clients at a timber thinning event in Kingscourt recently.

Gerard Dunne, our forester in the Cavan/ Meath area, invited local forest owners to understand the benefits of thinning their forestry. Gerard had plots cut into the forestry to show the tree's that would be removed and the light that would enter the crop as a result of opening up the canopy.

A forest road that had been fully grant aided by the forest service was in place and allowed the visitors to drive into and park at the forest. This road is constructed to provide the best access to the timber hauliers collecting harvested material from the forest.

Gerard went on to explain the thinning process and how Green Belt carefully monitors the volumes being extracted and the products beng removed. The focus of the forest owner should always be on the final crop, and we are there to support this view.

Green Belt manages forestry all over Ireland for private and institutional clients and as part of this service, we harvest in excess of 135,000 tonnes of material annually. We are focussing on increasing this volume as the private estate matures, and Green Belt are dedicating more resources to this enterprise in terms of staff and technology.

To see how we can add further value to your forest, please contact us directly.

Biomass is to play a significant role in the future of energy.

In an article published on the IHB website, the future for bioenergy is being promoted. The article is quoted below and the link is here

"The European Parliament confirmed in its plenary on the 17th of January 2018 the strategy adopted by the ENVI committee (European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety), and added that ensuring the sustainability of solid bioenergy in the next decade is very important and should be treated adequately.

Not only the European Parliament confirmed the approach of the Commission, but it also improved it as to guarantee full guarantee sustainability of bioenergy consumed in the EU for the period 2021-2030, The European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) reported.

This strategy is set to ensure that the wood biomass will contribute to CO2 emissions savings, in comparison to fossil fuels, and that it comes from sustainably managed forests, thanks to the risk assessment process.

“This approach will allow solid biomass to keep playing a key role in the European energy transition while providing coherent and realistic sustainability safeguards. Regardless, the bioenergy sector will have to remain cautious in trilogue on critical attempts such as cascading principle,” confirmed Jean-Marc Jossart, AEBIOM Secretary-General.

Next, the draft will go to vote in the Council of Europe. The European Parliament's approach is generally in line with the position of the Council and the Commission. AEBIOM is now confident that a smooth and coherent trilogue process will take place on this specific bioenergy sustainability act.

In the run-up to the vote, there had been attacks on the energetic use of biomass. In an open letter last week, 650 scientists warned against using round wood in the first instance for energy purposes.

Shortly before Christmas, the non-governmental organization Birdlife had criticized the draft of the environmental committee, the negotiators had failed to ban the energetic use of stumps and trunks."

Green Belt is improving the mobilisation of timber from the private estate and would like to work with you to improve your forestry returns.

Call us to find out how we can work together.

In a press release from the DCCAE:

Naughten kick-starts Biomass and Biogas Sectors with introduction of Support Scheme for Renewable Heat

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD, is introducing a national Support Scheme for Renewable Heat after securing Government approval.

The Scheme is designed to financially support the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with renewable energy for large heat demand non-domestic users. This covers commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic businesses and sectors (in the non-emissions trading sector).

Minister Naughten said: "The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat is a tangible and viable measure that will kick-start the biomass and biogas sectors. Crucially it will provide the basis to create new commercial opportunities for farmers in heat technologies including biomass boiler installations and new opportunities for foresters. It will also contribute to meeting Ireland's 2020 renewable energy and emission reduction targets".

Under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, Ireland has a target of 12% of energy consumed in the heat sector to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. Currently 6.8% of energy consumed in the heat sector in renewable.

Budget 2018 allocated €7 million to fund the initial phase of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat next year.

The Scheme is designed to ensure that air quality impacts will be addressed to support sustainable biomass use in installations, using best available technology and emission abatement.

The development of the Support Scheme involved detailed economic analysis, extensive engagement with industry and the publication of two public consultations on the design and implementation of the scheme.

"My Department received almost 200 submissions from the public and the final design of the scheme incorporates the findings from these submissions," added Minister Naughten.

The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat will consist of two types of support mechanism:

o An on-going operational support (paid for a period up to 15 years) for new installations or installations that currently use a fossil fuel heating system and convert to using biomass heating systems or anaerobic digestion heating systems

o A grant (of up to 30%) to support investment in renewable heating systems that use heat pumps.

The maximum tariffs paid will be 5.66 cents per kilowatt hour of energy produced from biomass heating systems and 2.95 cents per kilowatt hour of energy produced from anaerobic digestion heating systems. The tariffs paid will reduce with increasing output reflecting the economy of scale associated with larger systems.

The Minister added: "The economic analysis shows that biomass and anaerobic digestion have a significant role to play in Ireland's renewable energy future."

Other technologies and methods of support are under consideration, including biomethane grid injection, for subsequent phases of the Scheme.

The Minister noted: "The production of biomethane from anaerobic digestion and its injection into the natural gas grid has significant potential in Ireland. In addition to being a source of renewable energy, it can also provide an outlet for farm wastes. My Department continues to examine how best to support biomethane production and, as part of this work, we will be holding a workshop with industry early in the new year."

Highlighting the budgetary control measures in place, Minister Naughten added: "The lessons learned from schemes in other jurisdictions have been included in the design of this support scheme. In particular, there are eligibility criteria that projects must conform to over the period of support payments. These criteria will ensure that heat generated under the Scheme is applied to useful purposes only. In addition, there are a number of budgetary controls in order to control overall costs including project budget caps, a Scheme budget cap and periodic reviews to prevent windfall gains."

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will administer the Scheme and develop the detailed Terms and Conditions, including eligibility and sustainability criteria and these must be approved by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Minister Naughten concluded: "Securing Cabinet approval this week was a key milestone in order to move to the next stage of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat which will provide an opportunity for growth in the domestic biomass sector."

Green Belt were crowned Agribusiness of the Year in Forestry.

We were delighted to be not only nominated for this prestigous award, but to actually win. There was strong competition but our entry focussed on the strengths of Green Belt and the emphasis we place on quality and efficiency across our managed portfolio.

For 35 years, we have encouraged a culture of excellence from all our professional foresters and this reward recognises Green Belt for this hard work consistently delivered. It also appreciates the energy and commitment to a future for the forestry industry in Ireland. Afforestation figures need to be improved and further work to increase the mobility of timber in the sector needs to be completed. Further, a determined urge towards renewables, particularly in the shape of biomass, will advance the forestry market in no small way.

Green Belt would like to thank the organisers for the award and the hard work of the judges. Most imprtantly, we would like to thank all our loyal forest owners across the country for their support and trust in Green Belt.

• Read more about the awards on the Irish Times

Green Belt is truly delighted to be working with the management of Farnham Estate Spa and Golf Resort.

We will be working closely with the management team on site to provide a full and complete service with respect to their 185 hectares of forestry. What makes this forestry estate so special and unique is the age and beauty of the parklands setting and the maturity and majesty of the trees across the estate.

There are various compartments across the estate which have been managed to various levels over its lifetime. Green Belt is taking charge of the management of the mature woodlands and ensuring the long term, sustainable future of this forestry through proactive management.

First port of call was to accurately assess each of the stands on site and to create a detailed inventory of the standing timber. Secondly we assessed the areas that had been clearfelled previously and we set about replanting these.

Of course, based on the nature of the core business of Farnham estate, we were conscious of maintaining the beautiful walks that exist around the three lakes on the estate. The natural beauty of these walks is both breathtaking and serene and offers a wonderful opportunity to feel peace and tranquility. Working with the estate managers, we set about maintaining and enhancing these features. Work on these areas needed to be worthwhile and sensitive to the environs. Certain areas are going to be greatly improved by reafforestation and plots of new forestry will further improve the soil quality and vista around the location.

Green Belt employs numerous local contractors for the works being carried out and, being a Cavan based company, we were absolutely thrilled to be partnering with the estate.

Private estate management has always been a part of the Green Belt arsenal, but recently we have developed our expertise considerably through the management of vast areas of private woodland estates across Ireland - including Cahercon Estate in County Clare and some very important estates in Wicklow, Leitrim and Cavan.

We will be updating our Farnham reports continuously so you can keep an eye on progress. Of course, there's nothing like seeing it in the flesh, so visit the estate at your earliest opportunity.

The Irish Independeny published theis article on the continued use of Glyphosate.

The European Commission is set to debate the re-authorisation of the world’s most commonly used herbicide, glyphosate the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup product, for up to 15 years.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told Agra Europe that the College of Commissioners will meet on Wednesday, where they will debate the potential re-authorisation for glyphosate.

In recent weeks the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) said that there is not enough evidence to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, paving the way for the chemical's re-authorisation.

While its Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) agreed to maintain the current harmonised classification of glyphosate as a substance causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects, it concluded that the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, as a mutagen or as toxic for reproduction.

Glyphosate is most commonly known as the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller and this week's debate comes after months of wrangling over whether Europe would curtail the availability of glyphosate. Last July the EU temporally extended by 18 months the availability of glyphosate.

Farmers are highly reliant on the use of glyphosate for weed control and a decision to re-authorise will come as a major relief for those in the tillage sector.

However, any such move will face vocal opposition. Reacting to the news, that there is not enough evidence to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, Greenpeace said the ECHA “sweeps glyphosate cancer evidence under the carpet”.

Copa-Cogeca, the European farming organisation, welcomed the decision, saying that glyphosate is "an essential part of the farmer's toolkit".

The adopted opinion on the harmonised classification for glyphosate will be taken into account when the Commission and Member States consider whether to renew the approval to use glyphosate as an active substance in pesticides, later this year.

RAC provides an independent scientific opinion on the hazard classification of the substance. The classification is based solely on the hazardous properties of the substance.

It does not take into account the likelihood of exposure to the substance and therefore does not address the risks of exposure. The risks posed by exposure are considered, for example, when deciding whether to renew the approval of glyphosate as a pesticide in accordance with the EU’s Plant Protection Product Regulation.

The Forest Service have issued weather warnings about the potential for forest fires this week due to a period of high pressure weather leading to a higher risk potential for forest fires. Please see the dowload issued by the forest service about this.

Take particular notice of the advice about fires and farming.