Forestry licences not keeping pace with appeals

The number of decisions made by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is not keeping pace with the number of appeals against forestry licences, despite an increase in decisions, the Dáil has heard.

The FAC “is overwhelmed” by the number of appeals, Senator Pippa Hackett Minister of State for Agriculture with a responsibility for forestry said when presenting her forestry bill to the Dáil.

The bill has been fast tracked through the legislative process due to ongoing difficulties in the issuing of licences for afforestation, roads and felling. The problems are on two fronts, both in the licencing process itself and the number of appeals against licences that are issued.

Appeals

There has been a steady increase in licences being appealed, with 14 licences appealed in 2017; 105 in 2018; 235 in 2019 and 402 to date in 2020. While the FAC has increased the number of decisions issued year on year with 31 in 2018, 55 in 2019 and 172 so far in 2020, it is falling behind.

Approximately 490 cases are awaiting the decision of the FAC at present.

Minister Hackett outlined the delays were causing issues on a number of fronts.

If action is not taken quickly, we could face the prospect of sawmills running out of timber and of significant job losses

“I have had correspondence from many frustrated farmers who are confused about why they cannot get a licence to plant a native woodland or take out dead and dying trees from their forests,” she said.

“The delays in issuing licences have led to serious difficulties for people working in the forestry industry. If action is not taken quickly, we could face the prospect of sawmills running out of timber and of significant job losses.”

Planting

Planting rates have also suffered with just 1,941ha of new forested planted this year, down 35% on the same time last year and well behind the set target of 8,000ha per year.

“While we must recognise the current difficulties, we must also look towards the future of forestry, and how the planting of the right tree in the right place can best serve the environmental, social, and economic needs of our society,” Minister Hackett concluded.

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