Reconstitution scheme re-opened

By Donal Magner

The Forest Service has announced that the Forest Reconstitution Scheme (FRS) has been re-opened and applications are now being accepted.

The FRS provides grant aid when damage to a plantation occurs, usually as a result of natural causes such as fire, frost, windblow and insect pest and disease attack. In such cases the Forest Service "grant aids the reconstitution of such a plantation if the plantation had been well managed and maintained up to the time it was damaged''.

While the FRS can never fully compensate a grower for damage to a crop, it is an important grant to help re-establish a plantation. The Forest Service states:

"The objective of the grant is to repair the damage to plantations by replacing those elements that have been damaged.

"The reconstitution grant does not compensate increment loss or timber loss and it would be prudent for forest owners to insure their forestry investment.''

FRS applies to plantations over a wide age range. For example in the case of windblow, a reconstitution grant is normally allowable where the damage occurs before the plantation reaches two-thirds of its rotation which for an average crop of Sitka spruce would be around 27 years of age and much later of course for slower growing species. Exception to this rule may be made in the event of catastrophic wind blow where the value of the timber is reduced significantly. The Forest Service state that a new scheme has been included in the forestry programme submitted to the EU for approval as part of Ireland's Rural Development Plant but acknowledges that in a number of cases, reconstitution is urgently required. In a recent letter to the forestry sector, Gerry Fogarty, of the Forest Service said that applications in respect of these cases "should be submitted to safeguard the continued payment of the annual forest premium and the long term security of the forestry investment.''

As in other forestry schemes, written approval from the Forest Service must be issued before reconstitution work commences. The Forest Service will require a Form 1 (signed by the applicant and an approved forester) within eight weeks of the occurrence of damage and documentation such as species map indicating areas affected, location map and statement of proposed remedial work. Following a satisfactory site inspection from a Forest Service inspector, written approval will issue. Grants are applied in the same way as the afforestation scheme.

The first phase of 75% of the total costs will be paid after the Forest Service approves the establishment work following receipt of a Form 2, certified species maps, statement of cost, tax clearance certificate and other specified information.

Four years after the site is reconstituted, it will be due for the second instalment reconstitution grant. At this stage, the applicant should complete and submit a Form 3.

The remaining 25% of the grant will be paid following a successful site inspection by a Forest Service inspector. Growers wishing to avail of the FRS should contact their adviser or the Forest Service at Johnstown Castle Estate, Co Wexford (Tel 053 9163400 or 1890 200223).