The pace of forestry planting in Ireland continues to fall short of the annual target, as highlighted by the Social, Economic and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA). According to the latest data from the forestry dashboard, only 1,024ha of new forests have been planted this year, with just 27ha planted last week. The government’s target is to plant 8,000ha of new forests annually to increase the national forestry area to 18%. SEEFA has expressed concern over the “alarmingly low” planting rates, stating that the country is significantly behind the necessary pace to achieve even a fraction of the annual target.
At the current planting rates, Ireland faces the risk of transitioning from a carbon sink to a carbon source by 2050, warned SEEFA. Last week, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 18 afforestation licences for a total of 153ha. While the department met its weekly afforestation licensing target, SEEFA highlighted the ongoing “inconsistency” in meeting the set targets, with many weeks falling short by a significant margin. The organization raised concerns about the recurring pattern of poor results surrounding these occasional successes.
So far this year, the department has received 448 valid afforestation applications. In terms of felling and schemes, a total of 686 licences for felling on private plantations and 603 permits for felling on Coillte sites have been issued. Last week, 24 licences were granted for forestry roads, bringing the overall total to 600 licences by August 23. Additionally, 11 licences were approved for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, totaling 553 licences covering 1,991ha. The NTAS has seen 278 licences issued for 304ha since the programme began, along with 131 licences for the Woodland Improvement Scheme covering 746ha.
The forestry sector plays a crucial role in Ireland’s environmental and economic landscape, with the need to strike a balance between conservation and sustainable development. The challenges faced in meeting the annual planting targets highlight the importance of consistent and strategic planning to ensure the long-term health and viability of the country’s forests. SEEFA’s call for increased efforts to ramp up planting rates serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address the current shortfall and work towards a more sustainable future for Ireland’s forestry industry.
