The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has reported a notable increase in afforestation licences, issuing a total of 18 licences in the week ending on Friday, December 6. This marks a significant rise compared to the previous month, where an average of 10 licences were granted each week, with numbers fluctuating between five and 14 licences weekly. Last month’s licences paved the way for 284ha of new plantings, contributing to the yearly total of 4,417ha from 560 afforestation licences issued thus far in 2024. Notably, the latest data reveals that 1,539ha have already been planted this year.
While specific details regarding the area covered by the 18 recent afforestation licences are not provided in the DAFM’s Forestry Licensing Dashboard, the figures show that 23ha were successfully planted last week. In addition to afforestation licences, the DAFM has also granted a total of 924 private felling licences, 985 Coillte felling licences, and 814 road licences year-to-date. This includes 15 private felling licences, 10 Coillte felling licences, and seven road licences issued last week, all of which fall below the average numbers seen in November.
The Social, Economic and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) has expressed its satisfaction with the increase in afforestation licences following a lackluster November. Despite the rise in planting licences, SEEFA has labeled the overall weekly outcome as “disappointing,” with only a total of 50 licences issued across all categories. The association emphasized the need for greater consistency and transparency from the DAFM, stating that the current figures do not indicate substantial progress within the sector. SEEFA highlighted the necessity for clear explanations and a sustained effort to overcome challenges in meeting industry targets.
The private forestry sector group underscored that the area planted this year falls considerably short of the annual target outlined in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, which stands at 8,000ha. In comparison, 2,273ha and 1,652ha were planted in 2022 and 2023, respectively. SEFFA emphasized the importance of maintaining performance levels consistently and avoiding prolonged periods of limited progress to ensure the industry’s success in meeting its objectives.
