The Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme (KTG) for 2022 has opened, allowing participants the opportunity to learn from the experts and from each other’s experiences within a group setting. Minister of State for Biodiversity and Land Use, senator, Pippa Hackett says that she is delighted to reopen the Forestry KTG scheme for a fourth year. The aim of the scheme is to increase the level of forest management activity among forest owners.
According to Minister Hackett, the key to implementing the Forestry Strategy and the Forestry Programme will be improving the forestry management knowledge of farmers and landowners, and the KTG scheme will help to drive this.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has invested more than €1.3 million in knowledge transfer for Irish forest owners, funding over 1,500 participants since the scheme began four years ago.
The Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group is led by a professional forester and encourages participants to engage with forestry groups and professionals. While members are given the opportunity to decide on what they are interested in learning, KTGs can be used as a vehicle to bring forest owners in contact with professional foresters.
Each KTG can have a maximum of 20 participants and each participant will need to attend seven meetings or outdoor events to complete the programme. Participants from the 2018 – 2021 schemes will not be permitted to join a KTG in 2022.
Those interested in the scheme are to submit completed applications to DAFM by 4:00p.m. on 25 April, 2022.