Forestry is not – and never was – envisaged, as a land use in competition with viable agriculture. What has been achieved up until recent years is an even spread of afforestation in marginal land over most counties. This has changed as afforestation has collapsed in Donegal and dramatically decreased especially in Munster counties where much marginal land has been excluded from the afforestation programme.

As a result, planting has fallen and farmer interest has waned while much of the underperforming afforestation programme is taking place in fewer counties, mainly in the west.

That forestry can generate over 400 jobs, in a county such as Leitrim, illustrates its importance where employment is badly needed. However, an even spread of afforestation is required especially in counties where it has developed consistently and without controversy.

The COFORD report on land availability for forestry identified 670,000ha of land suitable for forestry without negatively affecting viable agricultural production.

The major emphasis on forests as carbon sinks often negates their wider multipurpose role as part of the farm enterprise and their wealth creation benefits. However, their climate change mitigation benefits have highlighted their potential in helping Ireland, especially agriculture, meet EU climate change targets which will feature in CAP post 2020.

This has been acknowledged in FoodWise 2025, which advocates an annual afforestation programme of 15,000ha from 2021.

However, the reality is that Ireland’s afforestation programme is unlikely to exceed 5,200ha this year compared with its 8,200ha target, which should be the “very minimum”, according to European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.

Against this backdrop, his warning that Ireland is currently “sleep walking to fines for not delivering on climate commitments” is worth heeding.

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