Glastir Woodlands Element

Transcription

1 Glastir Woodlands Element

2 Crown copyright 2012 ISBN: WG14511

3 Contents Page Glastir Introduction 1 Objectives 2 Glastir Woodland Management 3 Scheme outline 3 Who can apply? 4 How to apply 5 The selection and contract process 5 Glastir Woodland Creation 6 Scheme outline 6 Payment rates 7 How to apply 7 Glastir Woodland Creation Premium 7 Glastir Woodland Element relationship with other Glastir Elements and Single Payment Scheme 8 State Aid 9 Contact details 11

4 Glastir Introduction Glastir is a 5 year sustainable land management scheme available to land managers across Wales. Glastir pays for the delivery of specific environmental goods and services aimed at combating climate change, improving water management and maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. It is also designed to deliver measurable outcomes at both a holding and landscape scale in a cost effective manner. Glastir consists of four elements: Glastir Entry (GE formerly Glastir All-Wales Element) - a whole farm land management scheme which is open to applications from all farmers and land managers throughout Wales. It is designed to provide support for the delivery of environmental benefits that meet today s challenges and priorities. Successful applicants will make a commitment to deliver environmental goods for five years under a legally binding contract. Glastir Advanced (GA) a farm scheme intended to deliver significant improvements to the environmental status of a range of habitats, species, soils and water that might also require changes to current agricultural practices. In order to achieve these specific improvements and outcomes, financial support from the Welsh Government will be targeted at locations where action will lead to the required result. Common Land Element - designed to provide support for the delivery of environmental benefits on common land. Woodlands Element designed to support land managers who wish to create new woodland and/or manage existing woodlands to provide beneficial outcomes for a range of woodland types, species, soils and water. There is also an additional funding source for an Agricultural Carbon Reduction and Efficiency Scheme (ACRES) available to farmers who have a contract under Glastir Entry. 1

5 Objectives The objectives of Glastir are: Managing soils to help conserve our carbon stocks and reduce soil erosion. Improving water quality and reducing surface run-off. Managing water to help reduce flood risks. Conserving and enhancing wildlife and biodiversity. Managing and protecting landscapes and the historic environment. New opportunities to improve access and understanding of the countryside. The Glastir Scheme will form part of the Wales Rural Development Plan The scheme is governed by The Rural Development Programmes (Wales) Regulations 2006 ((Statutory Instrument) 2006 No (W.304)), Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 and Commission Regulations (EC) No. 1974/2006 and (EC) No. 65/2011 (all as amended from time to time). Copies of these Regulations are on the Welsh Government (WG) website at or copies can be requested at WG Divisional Offices. The scheme is subject to approval by the European Commission. This approval may result in changes to scheme details. As the European legislation is amended on a regular basis, the Welsh Government cannot guarantee that the Glastir rules (which derive from European legislation) will not be subject to change. The Welsh Government will publicise the changes in Gwlad ( and where necessary contact farmers and land managers. 2

6 Glastir Woodland Management Scheme outline Glastir Woodland Management provides targeted management for the following Glastir objectives: Bio-diversity to improve woodland connectivity and enhance species and structural diversity. Water in at risk catchments, to support management that reduces threats and provides improvements to water quality (pollution) and quantity (flooding). Carbon management that protects and enhances carbon stocks through the appropriate choice of silvicultural systems and a greater diversity of species selection during re-stocking that ensures woodlands are more robust in the future. Access to provide improved access and recreational opportunities in woodlands. Glastir Woodland Management also targets landscape and the historic environment and capital items are available to support improvements in these areas. To help deliver positive outcomes for these objectives, Glastir Woodland Management will provide area and capital grants for the following operations: Thinning to improve ground flora development and natural regeneration of tree species by allowing more light to enter the woodland, as well as the creation of deadwood. Restocking where this ensures greater tree species diversity, aids the restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and leads to improvements in water quality and quantity. Infrastructure to bring previously inaccessible woodlands into management. 3

7 Boundary work - to make woodlands stock proof or achieve better stock management where grazing is beneficial. Where appropriate, to improve landscape features such as dry stone walls, earth banks and parkland railings. Protected and priority species various grants to help conserve important wildlife and plant species and to aid breeding success and survival. Vegetation management to control invasive exotic and native plants that overwhelm and threaten woodland health, as well as to improve ride and glade management. Pest control including grey squirrels, in and around red squirrel areas and important woodland sites, and deer. Public access to improve woodland access and provide information and respite to visitors in certain geographical areas. Glastir Woodland Management contracts run for 5 years. Who can apply? Glastir Woodland Management offers grants to the following land managers to manage existing woodlands that are 0.5ha or more in a single block: Land managers in Glastir Entry who wish to carry out woodland management that do not enter Glastir Advanced. Land managers, including farmers and woodland only holders, who do not hold a Glastir Entry contract. 4

8 How to apply From 15 th April 2013, an expression of interest (EoI) form, to indicate that you wish to apply to Glastir Woodland Management, can be obtained from Government Buildings, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5HA Completed forms should be returned to the same address. The next round for selection will be for applications received by 31 st July 2013 although EoI s can continue to be submitted throughout the year for future selections. You must have a CRN and all your woodland registered with the Welsh Government to be able to submit an application. Forms submitted by the deadline will be assessed to ensure they meet the scheme eligibility criteria, before they can be entered into the selection process. The selection and contract process A set of target maps have been developed for all of the objectives to be addressed through Glastir Woodland Management. This process will identify the potential of each application to deliver Glastir Woodland Management objectives. A score will be allocated, based upon the range and scale of delivery that can be achieved in your woodlands. The scores will be adjusted to take account of woodland size. All those that submitted an expression of interest will be contacted by the Welsh Government with the outcome of the scoring process. Successful applications will be processed for a Glastir Woodland Management contract. The Glastir objectives identified by the scoring process will be passed to a Woodland Contract Manager or a Woodland Advisor, who will visit the woodland to assess its ability to meet the objectives. From this assessment, the Woodland Contract Manager or Woodland Advisor will prepare a woodland management plan. Once the woodland plan is approved, a Glastir Woodland Management contract will be issued. These will commence on 1 January each year and run for five years. Unsuccessful applications from the first round of assessment will remain in the selection process and may be successful in the future. The basis of the target scoring process may change in future years to reflect changing policy priorities. This means that a low score in year one does not necessarily mean that a holding will be unsuccessful in future years. 5

9 Glastir Woodland Creation Scheme outline The Glastir Woodland Creation scheme aims to provide high-quality woodlands that enhance the landscape, are appropriate to local conditions and have a diverse mixture of species and habitats. It supports a range of woodland planting options and aims to help fulfil the commitment to an increased area of mixed woodland, as set out in Woodlands for Wales, the Welsh Government s woodland strategy. Guidance is available on tree species choice, scale of planting and suggested site objectives, to ensure that land managers have the flexibility to choose species that meet a range of objectives. Glastir woodland creation grants are available to all land managers without the need to have indicated an interest in, or to have applied for, other Glastir Elements. Strategic Creation Areas Maps have been developed to identify Strategic Creation Areas where new woodland can be established, or where it is likely to be acceptable to plant new woodland or where it is unlikely to be acceptable. Minimum planting area Minimum application area for small simple woodland, basic mixed woodland and native woodland for bio-diversity is 0.25 hectare, which can comprise areas as small as 0.1 ha and 12 metres wide. Minimum individual woodland size is 0.1ha. Minimum area of application for enhanced mixed woodland and native woodland for carbon is 0.5ha. Minimum individual woodland size is also 0.5ha. 6

10 Payment rates Glastir New Planting - Woodland Category Establishment Grant /ha Small Simple Woodland (Max 0.5ha) Basic Mixed Woodland Enhanced Mixed Woodland Native Woodland - Carbon Native Woodland - Biodiversity Fencing /m 3.15 How to apply Until further notice, applications should be made by contacting Natural Resources Wales (formerly Forestry Commission Wales). Contact details are listed at the end of this booklet. Approved woodland consultants will be provided to assist applicants by explaining the rules and developing their application for them. This is at no cost to the applicant. You will not be charged any additional fees for any services associated with the Glastir Woodland Creation scheme. Glastir Woodland Creation Premium The Glastir Woodland Creation Premium is a 15-year scheme and is intended to compensate for the loss of income when agricultural land has been planted with trees under the Glastir Woodland Creation scheme to establish new woodland. There are two rates of income foregone payments: Farmer rate = 300/ha/year for 15 years Non-farmer rate = 66/ha/year for 15 years. Payments must be claimed annually on the SAF. 7

11 Farmer definition For the purpose of Glastir Woodland Creation, a farmer is defined as a person who devotes an essential part of their working time to agricultural activities and who derives at least 25% of their gross income from farming, taking into account all of the land that they farm in Wales. Proof of Farmer status Where the applicant has declared that they are a farmer, the applicant must be able to provide written evidence, from a chartered accountant, confirming the level of income is above the minimum threshold. Glastir Woodland Element relationship with other Glastir Elements and Single Payment Scheme Stock excluding woodlands under the Glastir Woodland Management scheme, planting new woodland under the Glastir Woodland Creation scheme and claiming payments under the Glastir Woodland Creation Premium, will not affect eligibility requirements when applying to other Glastir Elements. Land managers who have already applied for Glastir AWE can still apply for Glastir woodland creation grants, provided the area to be planted does not conflict with Glastir AWE options being used to achieve a threshold score to remain eligible for the AWE scheme. The planted area will not affect the points that a landowner can claim for Glastir AWE unless they choose to exclude woodland areas from their Glastir AWE application. Glastir is a European Rural Development Regulations scheme and agricultural land that is afforested under woodland establishment measures or made stock proof under agri-environment measures can be used to activate SPS entitlements, provided that land was used to activate SPS payment entitlements in Land used to support SPS payment entitlements can only be used for the period it is included in the relevant Rural Development scheme. To remain eligible for SPS, following the completion of the scheme, the land must meet all SPS eligibility criteria and must be managed in accordance with Cross 8

12 Compliance. The Welsh Government will recover payments where there is double funding between SPS and the Rural Development schemes. To meet new Glastir requirements, a customer must provide evidence that they have full management control of land they enter into the scheme. If there is a dispute involving more than one customer claiming to have full management control of the same area of land at the same time, neither customer will receive payment until it is established who is eligible. This applies, for example, where one customer claims Glastir and the other customer claims SPS. State Aid Assistance for the Glastir woodland schemes constitutes State Aid, as defined under Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty of Rome, and is being granted as de minimis aid under Commission Regulation EC 1998/2006 (the "de minimis" aid regulation). European Commission rules prohibit any undertaking from receiving more than 200,000 de minimis aid over any period of three fiscal years. Any de minimis aid granted over the 200,000 limit may be subject to repayment with interest. If you have received any de minimis aid over the last three years (from any source), you should inform us immediately with details of the dates and amounts of aid received. Furthermore, information on this aid must be supplied to any other public authority or agency asking for information on de minimis aid for the next three years. If you are successful in applying to any of the Glastir woodland schemes, you will receive a letter informing you that you are being considered for assistance under the De Minimis Regulation (Regulation 1998/2006). For the purposes of the de minimis regulation, you must retain this letter for 3 years from the date on this letter and produce it on any request by the UK public authorities or the European Commission. (You may need to keep this letter longer than 3 years for other purposes). Forms of possible aid: State grants; interest rate relief; tax relief; tax credits; State guarantees or holdings; 9

13 State provision of goods or services on preferential terms; direct subsidies; tax exemptions; preferential interest rates; guarantees of loans on especially favourable terms; acquisition of land or buildings either gratuitously or on favourable terms; provision of goods and services on preferential terms; indemnities against operating losses; reimbursement of costs in the event of success; State guarantees, whether direct or indirect, to credit operations preferential re-discount rates; dividend guarantees; preferential public ordering; reduction of, or exemption from, charges or taxes, including accelerated depreciation and the reduction of social contributions; deferred collection of fiscal or social contributions; assistance financed by special levies; capital transfers; certain State holdings in the capital of undertakings 10

14 Contact details Welsh Government s website: and bi-monthly Gwlad magazine contain key information. Until further notice, enquiries about the Glastir Woodland Creation scheme should be made to Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) using the contacts details for FCW, provided below. For all other Glastir woodland enquiries, your first point of contact should be the Government Buildings, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5HA GlastirTargetedElementQueries@Wales.gsi.gov.uk.. Area offices are open less frequently, so you are advised to check our website for opening hours or ring the area office to make an appointment. Contact details are as follows: WELSH GOVERNMENT DIVISIONAL OFFICES Caernarfon Divisional Office Government Buildings Penrallt Caernarfon LL55 1EP Tel: Fax: agriculture.caernarfon@wales.gsi.gov.uk Carmarthen Divisional Office Government Buildings Picton Terrace Carmarthen, SA31 3BT Tel: Fax: agriculture.carmarthen@wales.gsi.gov.uk Llandrindod Wells Divisional Office Government Buildings Spa Road East Llandrindod Wells LD1 5HA Tel: Fax: agriculture.llandrindod@wales.gsi.gov.uk AREA OFFICES Rural Payments Wales Ffynnon Las Ty Glas Avenue Llanishen Cardiff, CF14 5EZ Tel: Fax: Aberystwyth Area Office Welsh Government Rhodfa Padarn Llanbadarn Fawr Aberystwyth Ceredigion, SY23 3UR Tel: FORESTRY COMMISSION WALES Glastir Woodland Creation scheme forestregulations@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk 11