Forestry scheme gets thumbs up

THE establishment of a Forestry Environmental Protection Scheme (FEPS) to encourage high nature-value forestry on farms which participate in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) was welcomed yesterday.

Forestry Minister Mary Wallace earlier announced that an additional premium of €200 per hectare for five years will be available to farmers in REPS who join the FEPS and plant part of their land in accordance with the provisions for forestry laid down in the new scheme.

She said FEPS will open up new land to forestry and highlight the environmental benefits.