Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme

The Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme (CRR) supports private forest owners in Ireland to reforest land using close-to-nature silviculture, under a choice of three elements: Continuous Cover Forestry, Native Forests, and Biodiversity and Water. It provides a fixed reforestation grant per hectare plus an annual Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for 7 years, reflecting the environmental benefits the reforested land delivers.

Grant range: €2,200 - €4,800 per hectare
Funding level: 100%
Support type: Grant
Last checked: 3 Sept 2026

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About this scheme

The Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme helps private forest owners in Ireland reforest land (after felling) using close-to-nature silviculture, chosen from three elements: Continuous Cover Forestry, Native Forests, or Biodiversity and Water. Grants range from €2,200/ha up to €4,800/ha depending on the element chosen, plus an annual Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) of €150-€650/ha for 7 years. Applicants must be over 18 with a PPSN (or provide company registration details), be the landowner, leaseholder or joint manager, and hold a valid felling licence matching the proposed replanting species. Only private forest owners may apply, one application per owner per year, and the pilot is capped at a national annual uptake of 525ha. Applications and claims are made online through DAFM's iFORIS iNET system with support from a Registered Forester, moving through pre-approval, 1st Instalment Grant/1st PES Premium (within 12 weeks of planting), 2nd Instalment Grant (from year 4), and subsequent annual PES premium claims via agfood.ie, for a total contract term of up to 7 annual PES payments.

Who can apply

Individual applicants must be over 18 years of age and hold a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN); companies must provide their company registration (CRO) details
Applicant must be the owner, leaseholder or joint manager of the land at the time of application
Scheme is only open to private forest owners who meet the eligibility criteria of their chosen reforestation element
Applicant must hold a valid felling licence with the same replanting species proposed in the application, or have written DAFM agreement to change the replanting species
Only one application can be made per forest owner per year for the duration of the pilot
The pilot scheme operates under an annual national uptake limit of 525ha; DAFM closes the application portal once this limit is reached
Element 1 (Continuous Cover Forestry, max 12ha/application): grant of €2,200/ha plus a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) of €150/ha/year for 7 years
Element 2 (Native Forests, max 12ha/application): grant of €2,700/ha with PES of €500/ha/year, rising to €4,800/ha grant with €650/ha/year PES on Ecological Priority Sites
Element 3 (Biodiversity and Water, max 5ha/application): grant of €3,000/ha plus PES of €350/ha/year

How to apply

Submit Form 1 (Application for Approval) via DAFM's online iFORIS iNET system, completed with a Registered Forester, including a Location Map, Biodiversity Map, Climate Resilient Reforestation Operations Map (Element 3 only), Declaration by Beneficiary, and Tree Felling Licence (TFL) reference number.
Wait for Scheme Technical Approval from DAFM; no reforestation operations may begin until approval and a valid felling licence (or written DAFM agreement on species change) are in place and the licence's appeal window has passed.
After replanting is complete, submit Form 2 (Application for 1st Instalment Grant and 1st PES Premium) via iFORIS iNET within 12 weeks of completing planting.
From 4 years after the completion date, submit Form 3 (Application for 2nd Instalment Grant) via iFORIS iNET.
Claim subsequent annual PES premiums (Form 4) via DAFM's online agfood.ie services, payable yearly for up to 7 years in total from completion of reforestation.