‘Current incentives are very attractive’: How to earn up to six figures by planting trees

Forget your stocks and shares; how about trying to do something positive for the environment, while earning some money from the land?

Thanks to the State’s various tree incentive schemes, you don’t have to be a big farmer or have forestry experience to benefit from a variety of grants and annual premiums.

These grants are confirmed until 2027 through the Afforestation Scheme 2023-27, which aims to encourage people to plant and manage sustainable forests. Given Ireland’s current record, it is likely to be extended. The intention of the scheme is to increase the Republic’s forest cover from 11 per cent to 18 per cent by 2027 to help counteract climate change. The amount of money you get depends on the size and type of forest you plant.

According to figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, more than 2,500 hectares of new forests were planted in 2025 and paid to first grant instalment stage. That is up from 1,000 hectares in 2024.

However, this is still only about 31 per cent of the national target of 8,000 hectares a year.

So, if trees are your thing, can you make the sums add up to real investment?

From planning your own small woodland plot to establishing a commercial forest, trees are increasingly popular.

“Over the last number of years, there has been an increase in interest in forestry,” says Paul Lafferty, managing director of Forestsales.ie, noting that it is one of the few sources of income that is exempt from income tax – although you will pay PRSI and USC.

Part of the reason behind this interest