Forest Management Plans (iPLAN Scheme)

What is a Forest Management Plan?

A Forest Management Plan (FMP) is a structured assessment of a woodland that describes its current condition and outlines how it can be managed over time.

It sets out how the forest can be managed over time, including thinning, harvesting, forest road construction, and long-term restructuring. The information contained in a management plan can also help forest owners understand the long-term potential of their woodland and support decisions such as valuation, succession planning, and investment.

In Ireland, the preparation of Forest Management Plans is now supported through the Department of Agriculture’s iPLAN Scheme, which introduces a national online system for forest management planning.

What is the iPLAN Scheme?

The iPLAN Scheme supports private forest owners in preparing a professional Woodland Management Plan using the Department’s online iPLAN planning system.

The scheme forms part of the Forestry Programme 2023–2027 and aims to encourage more proactive management of Ireland’s private forests.

A Forest Management Plan prepared under the scheme typically includes:

• • description of the forest and its current condition
  • mapping of forest stands and infrastructure
  • inventory data describing the forest
  • recommendations for thinning and harvesting
  • consideration of biodiversity and environmental features
  • a forward plan for forest management over the coming years

These plans allow forest owners to take a structured approach to managing their woodland rather than reacting to issues as they arise.

iPLAN Scheme Grant

The iPLAN Scheme provides a grant of €1,200 towards the preparation of a Forest Management Plan submitted through the Department’s iPLAN system.

Key points of the scheme include:

• • the grant is available to all private forest owners
  • both grant-aided and non-grant-aided forests are eligible, (including Native Woodlands)
  • forests with existing certification (FSC or PEFC) are also eligible
  • a single management plan normally covers all forests owned within the same management unit or geographic area
  • a new plan for the same forest area can normally be submitted every five years

The grant is paid once the management plan has been completed and successfully submitted through the iPLAN system. Payment is usually made to the forest owner but can be mandated to a registered forester or forestry company preparing the plan.

View full scheme details on the Department’s iPLAN Scheme page.

Why Forest Management Plans Are Best Practice

A Forest Management Plan represents best practice in modern forestry.

It provides forest owners with clear information about the condition of their woodland and how it is likely to develop over time. This allows management decisions to be made strategically rather than reactively.

A management plan is particularly valuable where a forest owner needs reliable information for:

• • forest valuation
  • estate or succession planning
  • financial or investment decisions
  • planning thinning or harvesting operations
  • identifying infrastructure requirements such as forest roads

Without a management plan, many woodland decisions are made with incomplete information. A structured plan provides the data needed to manage the forest properly and understand its long-term potential.

Forest Management Plans and Forest Valuation

One of the most important – and often overlooked – uses of a management plan is forest valuation.

A forest is a long-term asset, and its value depends heavily on the condition of the crop and how it is expected to be managed over time. A well-prepared Forest Management Plan provides the information needed to estimate future timber production and understand the likely value of the woodland. This information is often required by professional valuers when assessing the financial value of a forest.

This can be particularly important where a forest is:

• • being sold or transferred
  • included in an estate or succession plan
  • assessed as part of a farm valuation
  • considered for partnership or investment

In many cases, a management plan is the starting point for understanding the financial value of a forest property.

Planning Future Forest Operations

A FMP identifies the forest management system that will be applied to the woodland and sets out the likely sequence of operations required over time. In practice, the management system adopted will influence everything from thinning schedules to road requirements and the long-term value of the forest.

Depending on the objectives of the forest owner and the condition of the woodland, this may include systems such as clearfell and replant, continuous cover forestry, or other long-term restructuring approaches.

The plan typically identifies future operations such as:

• • forest harvesting and thinning
  • the need for forest road construction to access timber
  • harvesting strategy and timing
  • replanting or restructuring following clearfelling

By identifying the management system and the likely sequence of operations in advance, forest owners can plan their woodland more effectively and make better long-term decisions about the forest.

Ecoplan Forestry

Ecoplan Forestry prepares FMPs for private forest owners across Ireland, including plans developed under the iPLAN Scheme.

Our approach focuses on practical forestry management and close collaboration with the forest owner. Every woodland is different, and a good management plan should reflect the objectives, priorities, and long-term vision of the owner, not simply satisfy a scheme requirement.

A well-prepared plan provides clear information about the woodland and supports real management decisions over time, from thinning and harvesting to infrastructure planning and long-term development.

If you are considering a Forest Management Plan under the iPLAN Scheme, contact Ecoplan Forestry to discuss your woodland and your long-term objectives.