The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has recently disclosed that 19 afforestation licences have been issued since the beginning of this year. Out of these, 18 licenses were granted in the week leading up to last Friday, January 10. These 19 licences pertain to a total of 154 hectares of afforestation, although there has been no recorded planting activity so far in 2025. Interestingly, the data reveals that DAFM has not yet received any valid licence applications for afforestation, felling, or roads up to the current date.
The figures also indicate that DAFM has issued 27 private felling licences and 4 Coillte felling licences, covering a combined area of 447 hectares. Moreover, 7 licences have been issued this year under the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, accounting for 9 hectares. Since the initiation of this scheme, a total of 946 licences have been granted, covering 3,449 hectares. Additionally, 5 licences have been approved by DAFM under the Woodland Improvement Scheme for 28 hectares, while no licences have been sanctioned yet for the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS), the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (DTS), or the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme.
The Social, Economic and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) has expressed its approval of the initial forestry dashboard figures for 2025. SEEFA highlighted that despite a slowdown in licensing over the holidays, the first full week of the year has shown positive signs, with 18 afforestation licenses approved for 152 hectares and 22 private felling licences, marking an eight-week high. The association acknowledged the challenges faced in the previous year and encouraged the department to maintain the current momentum throughout the year, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with the new government to further develop the sector.
According to department data, a total of 1,573 hectares of forestry were planted last year, a decrease from 1,652 hectares in 2023. Licences were issued for 4,844 hectares of afforestation in 2024, a significant increase from 789 hectares in 2023. Furthermore, licences were granted for the construction of 322 kilometers of roads (compared to 87 kilometers in 2023) and for the felling of 21,850 hectares (as opposed to 33,416 hectares in 2023).
