The Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) has raised concerns about the low number of afforestation licenses issued this year. In the past week, only four licenses were granted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), bringing the total for February to just 12 and the annual total to 69 licenses covering 466 hectares. To meet the annual afforestation target of 8,000 hectares, we would need to be at around 1,080 hectares by now, requiring more than double the current number of licenses.
This issue has come to light at a critical time when the ease of afforestation is more important than ever, especially in the aftermath of recent storms and years of underplanting, according to SEEFA. In January, DAFM issued 57 afforestation licenses, covering 389 hectares, showing an increase compared to the same month last year when 351 hectares were licensed. As of last Friday, the department had received 54 valid afforestation licenses and 184 hectares of forestry have been planted since the beginning of 2025.
However, it is important to note that this figure only reflects afforestation that has been paid at the first grant stage this year, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS). The latest forestry dashboard released by the department reveals that 106 private felling licenses and 32 Coillte licenses, covering a total of 2,091 hectares, have been issued. Despite an increase in private felling licensing, SEEFA believes it is still insufficient to meet industry standards, let alone support post-storm recovery efforts.
There have been 101 private felling applications and 173 felling applications from Coillte. SEEFA has been actively engaging with the department over the past six months about licensing challenges and has put forward proposed solutions. However, the association expressed disappointment that no action has been taken yet to address these issues. So far this year, 60 licenses have been granted for the construction of 22 kilometers of forestry roads, with 17 kilometers already completed by February 14.
The department has issued 40 licenses this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, covering 137 hectares. Additionally, 21 licenses have been approved for the NTAS (26 hectares), 13 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (78 hectares), and three for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (29 hectares). Only one license has been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year, covering 5 hectares.
