Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) is a sustainable forest management approach that allows for timber production while maintaining a forest cover at all times. It promotes biodiversity, soil protection, and ecosystem services, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional clear-fell methods.

Green Belt has extensive knowledge and experience of implementing CCF in appropriate stands. It is important to address this management practice early into the lifecycle. Too late and it might impact its stability. 

The DAFM provides financial support for the conversion and/ or management of a stand under CCF. This is available under the Woodland Improvement Scheme  - your local forester will assist you with all aspects of this application, and carry out the harvesting.

• DAFM CCF: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) supports CCF through various schemes, including the Woodland Improvement Scheme, which provides financial assistance for forest owners to implement CCF practices.
• Benefits: CCF enhances landscape improvement, biodiversity, and provides long-term environmental stability.

• Implementation: It aligns with EU and Irish policy frameworks for sustainable forest management, promoting low-impact interventions and diverse forest management.

  For more detailed information, you can refer to the official DAFM website or related forestry resources.

PES premiums aim to promote the longer-term sustainable management of forests, in particular encouraging forest owners of productive forests to manage their forests with a view to maximising various ecosystem services in the areas of carbon sequestration, fuelwood, the protection of water and soil, forest genetic resource, pest and disease resilience, climate change regulation, the 
control of floodwaters, pollination, recreation, tourism, education and cultural heritage. In addition, existing forests transforming to Continuous Cover Forestry require continued management to be able to provide the maximum range of ecosystem services.