When it comes to harvesting your timber, having highly accurate information to hand is priceless. Understanding what is in your forest in terms of species mix, top height and volume of timber per hectare are crucial.

Green Belt is a leading expert in timber and forest measurement and assessment. WE utilise on the ground foresters to actively measure forests. Initially they are stratified into blocks of similar yield class. Then a plan to inventorise thee timber stands within each sub compartment is made.

We do recommend inspection paths are cut through the forest to allow access to measure the DBH (Diameter at Brest Height) and to accurately ascertain tree top heights.

For those looking for an even higher level of information and accuracy, we offer a LIDAR drone service. This allows a drone to be manually flown over the forest, capturing both imagery of the plantation, and accurate ground level information, tree top heights, and timber volume. WE also ground proof the flown data gathered.

From there, we process the data and deliver a set of results which includes, top height and timber volumes. This allows an accurate analysis of the plantation and to predict future timber volumes and a timeline to harvesting. 

All of this delivers a much greater return to you as a forest owner. It also improves the sale price of your forest if thats the route you decide to take.

Establishing your forest was a great move. The next move, now that has met the Forest Service standards, is to maintain the management of the plantation.

 Your forest changes each year and the impact of weather and climate conditions has a bearing on its growth rate and performance. Understanding these changes is crucial. Similarly, understanding the state of the forestry market in terms of timber prices, regulation changes, industry updates and more, will keep you up to date and well informed on your valuable asset.

Our team of professional foresters and administrators can deliver a number of management plan options for you, depending on the level of detail you require and your budget too.

We offer a lower cost option that delivers site specific information in your forest and monitors growth rate changes from year to year. This is complemented by an up to date commentary on the state of the market.

Alternatively, you can select a much more detailed report with an expert forester visiting and assessing your plantation and discussing the condition of the plantation with you. From here any recommendations can be made and actioned as necessary.

Contact your local forester for more details on each of these options. We can assist you and keep you informed across the entire life cycle of your forest - all the way to replanting.

And remember - Green Belt can complete all forestry actions for you - Thinning, clearfell, management plans, replanting and maintenance - as well as forestry insurance.

The Forest Service (FS) as part of the DAFM, requires a 10 year management plan to be submitted on your forest. This is carried out by one of Green Belt's professional foresters following a detailed site visit and assessment. The details are submitted to the forest service and the actions approved as per their guidelines.

This management plan ensures the original stipulations at establishment phase have been met, and it prescribes the best next steps in the longer term management of your valuable asset. This includes the identification of any areas requiring attention - fencing, fertilisation etc. - as well as identifying the optimum harvest time.

Within this detailed document, specifics on the species mix and planted area will be recorded. Timber volumes will be calculated and from this, future earning potential can be measured - for some forests, the value at clearfell can exceed €25,000 per hectare.

It is very important that your forest continues to be monitored by a professional forester from Green Belt. We offer a number of suitable options across the lifecycle of the forest. 

Please contact us to learn more about any of these options.

Health and Safety compliance is mandatory for all contractors to operate with Green Belt. Please download and complete the attached documents to begin the process of approval for working with Green Belt.

HEALTH AND SAFETY DOCUMENT

GREEN BELT SAFETY STATEMENT

CONTRACTOR QUESTIONNAIRE 

RISK ASSESSMENT METHOD STATEMENT (RAMS)

HARVESTING SITE RULES

INDEMNITY FORM

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

Sir David Attenborough

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.

Work with Green Belt to discover some of the options available to you. Our detailed projects incorporate a biodiversity baseline. 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?

Afforestation is the term used for establishing a new forest.

There are financial supports available from the Department of Agriculture, Food and marine (DAFM) to cover the costs of planting the trees, fencing the boundary and managing the plantation for the first 4 years. 

Additionally, there are attractive premium payments made to the landowner directly for up to 20 years (for farmers). 

This ranges from €1,103 per hectare for Native Woodland establishment (FT1) to €746 per hectare for a commercial crop (FT12).

So, for example, if you planted 10 hectares of land with a Native Forest, you would receive €11,030 every year for 20 years  - that's €220,600.

Worth remembering - Green Belt has a unique scheme where you can receive an additional €1,000 per hectare for a Native Establishment. Contact us to get more details on this.

Important to note, there are options for all landowners and farmers to consider - one of the 12 available schemes will certainly suit you.

Our foresters can help you with the paperwork, the entire application procedure and of course, getting your trees in the ground! 

Forestry offers a unique and special way to preserve wealth and earn an income with favourable tax treatment.

A rare commodity in that it is a tangible asset, grows while you sleep and is a great hedge versus inflation. It is not typically subject to the same market fluctuations as other investments, and if prices are low, the most effective means of storing the asset are on the stump - ie only cut it when it suits to!

Green Belt can identify and source forestry plantations, land and reforestation parcels that meet your budget for your investment. It is often best to keep forestry separate from your other pension pot, as the dividends from forestry have a more favourable tax treatment.

Depending on a number of factors, the annualised growth within a forestry portfolio, is a compounding 5% per annum.

Call us to day and get your families future secured.

All operations in forestry require a licence. This is to protect all parties and to ensure the national estate is managed and monitored accurately.

  Green Belt and our professional foresters will secure a felling licence     on your plantation. The licence application must be completed by a     professional forester and submitted for approval to the Forest               Service.

  Our team will manage the process and once issued will market your     timber, on your behalf. From first thinning to clearfell, we can advise     you on the most appropriate operations to undertake. Once a licence   is in place, Green Belt will manage the operations on your behalf,  
  including the sale of the timber, marking the trees to harvest, 
  ensuring prompt payments and a transparent process to end market.

  The value of your forest and woodland is derived from the attention you place on it. We want to guarantee the very best results for your long term plan.

Here are some additional details around felling licences and the rules and regulations around tree felling. 

Felling Application Guidance notes

Contact us today to start the process - plan now for future earnings.