The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has released a new circular today, Wednesday, February 19, confirming that existing felling licences can now be utilized to clear and remove trees damaged by Storms Darragh and Éowyn. According to DAFM, “thin and clearfell licences” are applicable for clearing and removing trees in forest plots affected by the recent storms. DAFM emphasized that the conditions of the licence, including any timing restrictions for bird species protection, must be adhered to during cutting, felling, and timber removal.
Forest owners seeking to use their thinning-only felling licences to clear storm-damaged forests can now complete and submit the required notification form in appendix 1 to the relevant department via email. This appendix mandates forest owners to provide a map delineating the windblown area and the section intended for clearing under the thinning licence. It is crucial that only the storm-affected parts of the plot are cleared, excluding any undamaged areas. Additionally, forest owners have a replanting obligation for the cleared area and must submit a replanting proposal within six months of completing the tree clearance.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has expressed appreciation for the clarification allowing forest owners to utilize existing felling licences for storm-damaged trees. Padraig Stapleton, IFA Farm Forestry chair, praised Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture, and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae, for this decision. Stapleton highlighted the importance of professional contractors adhering to licence conditions while clearing windblown trees and emphasized the obligation of replanting within the specified timeframe set by DAFM.
Minister Healy-Rae emphasized the paramount importance of safety when dealing with the aftermath of the recent storms, urging forest owners to prioritize safety above all else. He underscored the high-risk nature of windblown forestry sites and advised against individual attempts with chainsaws. Minister Healy-Rae stressed the necessity of using large harvesting machines for safe timber extraction, given the potential tension in windblown trees.
