February 10, 2022 - charteredforesters.org
The Forestry Commission has announced that it will reopen two major grant schemes in early 2022.
Woods into Management (WiM) Forestry Innovation Funds
With an increased demand for wood and increased levels of woodland management, this fund will support new and innovative ideas that will ultimately help improve the ecological condition of woodlands and their resilience to climate change. The Timber in Construction Innovation Fund is new for 2022 and aims to increase and facilitate the use of sustainable English wood and wood fibre in construction.
These WiM grants will open for applications this year:
Timber in Construction Innovation Fund
Routes to market for ash timber Innovation Fund
Temporary infrastructure Innovation Fund
Regional woodland restoration Innovation Funds
Applicants will be invited to submit multi-year proposals of up to three financial years (ending March 2025), with individual projects valued at up to ?100K per year.
Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF)
This grant supports the development and adoption of new technologies and ways of working that will strengthen the quantity,?quality,?and diversity of planting stock available for tree planting in England.?New for 2022, applicants?will?also be invited to submit multi-year proposals spanning up to three financial years (ending March 2025). Projects can be valued at up to ?300K per year and must?address one or more of the following challenges identified through stakeholder engagement as barriers to tree production:
Challenge 1:?How can we make better use of available seed and vegetative planting material to maximise the quantity, quality and diversity of trees produced?
Challenge 2:?How can we develop growing systems to enhance their efficiency and resilience to change, whilst delivering improved quality and diversity of product??This challenge can include activities to promote biosecurity.
Challenge 3: How can innovative environmentally sustainable weed control solutions be used to reduce reliance on herbicides?