Ireland has a very low level of forestry. It is widely accepted that forestry is uniquely placed as one of the most effective solutions available to Ireland to meet its climate targets.

Green Belt can help you Assess the Carbon sequestered by your Forest. The European Union is developing a platform that will provide more comfort to forest owners. The calculation and valuation of the Carbon captured within your project is a very important metric. As the private forestry estate has matured across Ireland, more and more carbon is captured each year. New planting (afforestation) is the most transparent and straightforward method to significantly capture and store CO2 in the trees, soil and ultimately timber products produced from the forests and woodlands.

IMPACT The impact of investing into Irish Carbon Credits is promoting and encouraging further establishment of Irish forests. At 11% forestry cover, we are far below the European average and all activities that encourage the new planting of woodlands and forests across Ireland is to be embraced. This is a crucial step for Ireland to be engaged in to reach our target forestry cover of 18%.

Establishing a forest now and registering the afforestation project on a verified platform within the first 4 years, will secure longer term payments, extending the forest income beyond the term of the annual premiums, and bridging that gap to clearfell, or your prescribed forestry management technique.

Green Belt can accurately calculate and report on your forests growth, productivity, future revenue streams and Carbon Capturing rates. This is an invaluable tool and is essential for the long term protection of your family's assets. Simply contact us and engage with us with your forest details and we will take care of the rest. It could also be combined with our Group Insurance Scheme.

Compliance Reporting Measuring, Reporting and Verification (biodiversity, Nature MRV) of CO2 captured within your forestry and land is really valuable information. If you are trading as a private forest owner, or reporting from a corporate perspective, accurate and reliable data is critical to the virtue and integrity of your claims. Green Belt provides these professional services.

PERMANENCE Permanence is how durable the carbon benefit from an offset project is. This takes into account the risk of that benefit being reversed earlier than expected, for instance if a wildfire kills trees in a reforestation project before the end of the project's lifetime.,

ADDITIONALITY Additionality means that a project results in emissions reductions or carbon removals in addition to the ‘business as usual’ scenario which would have occurred without the project existing – so the project needed to exist for those emissions to be reduced or removed.,

FIND THE RIGHT TYPE OF PROJECT TO SUPPORT Speak to us today about developing your own offset practices, working across Ireland in local and community based projects. We have numerous, credible and valid options to explore and can work with you to create the 'best fit' for you, your company and your pocket.

Download Documents: 

EU Emissions per Capita

Forestry Insurance details

A forest thrives under constant and consistent professional management. Post establishment through to silvicultural maintenance with thinning and harvesting, to clearfell or continuous cover forestry, Green Belt's expert foresters are located nationally to support your forest activities.

Green Belt has always been innovative in its approach to forestry and service provision to our forest owners. Our new Management Plan offerings cater for all levels and budgets.

OPTION 1 - Light - A broad overview of your plantation working with up to date satellite imagery and providing analysis on the plantation. Completed by our forestry experts with useful data and information included in the package.

OPTION 2 - Detailed - A specific and site based approach including all from option 1. This detailed plan is a detailed and accurate assessment of your plantation using both field gathered data and remote data to provide you with a full picture. The information will allow you to make an informed decision on your management practices - harvesting, road building, management strategy and so on. It also gives you a strong platform should you wish to sell your plantation.

Get in touch with us today and quote Option 1 or Option 2 with details of your plantation to receive a quote from your forester.

Green Belt completes 10 year management plans as per Forest Service Guidelines - this is a grant aided service, and sets out the management protocol for the proceeding 10 years (year 10 to  20). 

Replanting is a legal obligation. Green Belt get  it done right. 
Green Belt has an excellent system for replanting to maximise the efficiency and quality of replanting operations.

However, if you wish to consider selling your land, there are buyers in the market keen to acquire lands for replanting. We will arrange this on your behalf.

We work with you to implement the replanting terms of the felling licence. Green Belt offers a range of flexible management plans to look after the replanting until it is sufficiently established.

And on top of that, we can provide access to the Green Belt Master insurance policy - peace of mind on your forest.

When you work with your local forester, you are guaranteed an excellent service and superb results. Our professional foresters have extensive experience in developing forestry and delivering the results you want.

Get in touch and we will competitively price your replanting operation.

The DAFM has provided full funding to cover the costs of establishing a Native Woodland. Green Belt can source the lands on your behalf and process the application with the Forest Service.

A Native woodland offers a wonderful opportunity to create an oasis of peace, calm and reflection as well as earning you up to €1,103 per hectare for 20 years. Many are establishing these woodlands as a longer term legacy - to give something back to communities or to deliver a legacy for the next generation.

Green Belt has established more Native woodlands than any one else and our expert foresters will ensure you reach your desired outcomes. 

Green Belt is also unique in being able to offer a once off additional payment for those who plant under FT 1 - this is called the Green Belt Native Woodland support Scheme. As forest owner you receive a once off, additional payment of €1,000 per hectare. This comes without any loss of carbon or biodiversity credits.

FT1 comprises the creation of new native forest, principally to promote Native Forest biodiversity, biodiversity within the wider landscape, and other ecosystem services such as soil and water protection and landscape enhancement. Areas planted under FT1 can be managed for wood production using continuous cover forestry practices, where compatible with onsite biodiversity.

The annual premium rate for this scheme is €1,103 per hectare and is available for 20 years for farmers (and 15 years as a non farmer).

Green Belt can source and assess lands suitable for planting and complete all the necessary administration and environmental reporting necessary to achieve afforestation (planting) approval on the selected area*.

Afforestation scheme launch FAQs from DAFM

...Real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics. 

Sir David Attenborough

Green Belt take you on guided nature immersion events. Here you learn about more than just planting trees - you are spending time in a living and working landscape. You find clarity on your role within nature, guided by us - the people who manage them every day. 

Are you a company that is committed to a longer term stewardship and partnership role? Green Belt will design a program with you to incorporate a multi year restoration plan; biodiversity enhancement; water catchment improvement; additionality and permanence structures, opportunities for visits and interactive events and of course a detailed Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) model.

Companies need to move progressively in support of biodiversity. Forward-looking industries understand that continued biodiversity loss creates significant risks for their business—and that as an early mover they stand to benefit from new business opportunities and improved standing with customers and investors. [read more].

Green Belt is delivering practical solutions across Ireland to meet corporate demands - To arrest or reverse large-scale biodiversity loss, companies across value chains must transform their businesses. Addressing the corporate compliance reporting requirements including CSRD for example, disclosing their approach to nature and mitigation factors to their business. Taking into consideration the impact of double materiality, it is increasingly important to positively impact the nature and environment in which they operate.

Our experiences and projects are grounded in real outcomes - biodiversity uplift, water protection and a longer term land stewardship. If you prefer to 

 Work with Green Belt to discover some of the options available  to  you.  Our detailed projects incorporate a biodiversity base  line.  Therefore, site  specific targets around identified Taxa are  targeted  for improvement.  Some of the metrics we consider are:

1. Soil Health
2. Carbon content
3. Water quality and protection
4. carbon sequestration
5. Habitat enhancement
6. Amenity creation and more

All of this is achievable with a vision and a commitment from you. Innovative and positive financing packages are designed with the land owner and community considered. This can be through direct ownership or under a long term lease agreement. 

Green Belt will source suitable lands, create a framework and implement the plan. We represent the results in a very informative and interactive web based platform. This allows you to share the impacts you are influencing with your staff, clients and beyond.

Can you afford not to make this decision?

The Native Tree Area Scheme (NTA 1 & NTA 2) is a unique and novel approach that allows up to 2 hectares (5 acres) of land to be planted (afforestation) without the requirement to obtain an afforestation licence. The manual is available to download with all the details. Our experts can guide your application.

The specifics around each of the elements - NTA 1 and NTA 2 are based on soil type and conditions. NTA 1 - Creation of Small Native Forests - Annual Premium rate is €2,206 per hectare for 10 years Supports the establishment of new native forests on farmed land thereby contributing to Ireland’s targets in relation to a wide range of environmental priorities particularly climate change and biodiversity.

NTA 2 - Creation of Native Forests for Water Protection - Annual Premium rate is €2,284 per hectare for 10 years Creating new native forests and undisturbed water setbacks that can be used to deliver meaningful ecosystem services that protect and enhance water quality and aquatic ecosystems. The creation of these permanent, semi-natural landscape features alongside aquatic zones will protect and enhance water quality and aquatic habitats into the future. These forests also provide wider biodiversity functions by protecting and expanding existing native forests. Through the creation of these green corridors, existing native forests can be reconnected thereby addressing the negative effects of fragmentation.

Get in touch with your Local Forester today to see how you can earn significantly on your land and improve your biodiversity levels.

Native Tree Area Scheme

If you are considering selling your forest, you will want to get as much as possible for it. Green Belt will help you get the best return for your forest.

The market is strong currently, for good forestry plantations - but like any buyer and seller transaction, the better the information presented, the better the price.

Green Belt can provide you with specific and detailed information that is important to investors and purchasers. This includes a detailed inventory, drone footage and a projected cshflow on earnings based on timber volumes and accurate pricing. Inspection paths form part of the package to allow potential purchasers access to the forestry and carry out the own due diligence.

Contact us to discuss the package that suits you for your forestry sale.

Have you ever thought about leaving a legacy and providing for the long term? The options available for planting lands are vast and provide something for everyone. There are 12 different Forest Types (FT), and they each encourage diverse species mixes and biodiversity, as appropriate to the land and owner.  CLICK THE BLACK PAGE TO DOWNLOAD A BROCHURE

Forestry and Woodlands are sources of timber, amenity, habitat and well being and local, rural employment. Additionally, trees capture and store Carbon, improve soil and water quality and have the capacity to shelter animals.

A further benefit to forest and woodland creation is that the revenues generated are tax free (exc USC and PRSI). 

Who pays to heave the trees planted - well, forestry establishment is covered by a full, exchequer backed grant. This is to encourage further planting nationally to increase the national cover from a European low of 11% up to 18%. There is a 4 year government backed contract put in place to protect both parties. Some of the commitments within that contract, include:

• Fencing of the planted area
• Preparation of the ground
• Draining of land
• Supply and planting of trees
• Fertilising
• Vegetation Control
• Pest control
• Maintenance of woodland records

For those who do decide to plant, there are a range of premiums available, matching the Forest Type - see our calculator below. Premium payments are paid directly to landowners, annually, for up to 20 years (15 for non farmers) and can be worth €1,103 per hectare.

Your local forester will assist you through the entire process. Remember, you own the land and the trees - we are here to help you make the most from them.

Afforestation premium rates 2023 - 2027