Administrative burdens as barriers to afforestation: A sludge audit of Ireland's afforestation scheme

Many governments offer financial incentives to encourage landowners to plant trees. However, administrative burdens associated with these afforestation schemes can hinder grant uptake. This paper builds on existing research on administrative burdens and “sludge,” which addresses these administrative challenges, by conducting a sludge audit of Ireland's Afforestation Scheme. We create a journey map that outlines the typical steps involved in securing afforestation grants, assess the level and type of sludge at each step in this process, and conduct a thematic qualitative analysis of stakeholder interviews. The audit reveals that unpredictable timelines in the application process serve as a significant barrier to afforestation efforts. Additionally, the high level of uncertainty surrounding grant application outcomes complicates the decision-making process for landowners, making it challenging to determine whether pursuing the scheme is worthwhile. To address these challenges, we recommend streamlining information requirements, establishing clear timelines, and enhancing communication to reduce friction and facilitate afforestation. • Ireland's Afforestation Scheme offers grants to landowners to plant trees. • The uptake of the scheme is impeded by administrative hassles (aka sludge). • We conduct a sludge audit of the scheme. • We find substantial sludge and recommend sludge reduction interventions. • This is the first sludge audit to identify barriers to climate action.