So far, nearly 20,000 farmers have planted approximately 250,000ha of grant-aided forests since the late 1980s.
The private forest sector, made up predominantly of farmers, accounts for almost 50% of the national forest estate.
Over the next 20 years, we will increase sustainable wood supplies for our wood-based industries, create thousands of rural jobs, improve habitats, protect water quality and sequester millions of tonnes of carbon.
Yet, planting trees is often viewed negatively and government agencies appear unwilling to fully recognise the benefits for people and the environment of modern forestry, which operates to a world-leading sustainability standard. Outdated perceptions of productive forestry threaten the expansion of the sector.
Forestry represents a key sector in the transition toward a low-carbon and climate-friendly economy and is one of the main sectors that keeps our rural areas vibrant and sustainable.
Challenge
We have a major challenge to achieve the 18% forest cover, which is needed to achieve a long-term sustainable supply of timber.
If we continue to restrict large areas of marginal agricultural land, increase the red tape associated with afforestation and wood mobilisation, as well as reducing the productive forest area without appropriate compensation to farmers, we will miss our opportunity to expand the forest area and its social, environmental and economic benefits.
The IFA’s five-point plan to revitalise farm forestry sets out a clear strategy “to deliver a long-term sustainable forest sector that maximises the benefits to rural communities”.
IFA president Joe Healy has outlined objectives including the key proposal “that all land that satisfies both environmental and productive requirements must be eligible under the Afforestation Scheme.
In this plan, the IFA identifies some of the main pressures facing the private forest sector today.
We are calling on the Government to introduce the necessary changes to revitalise the forestry programme, and ensure the long-term sustainable management and development of the forest sector in Ireland. The plan is available on our website here.
How much you could earn in forestry
Keeping forest harvesting on track
Diminishing afforestation programme