‘‘One aspect of the social pillar of sustainable forest management, which has so far received little attention at the policy level, is the forest workforce. There has been little recognition at the international level of the obvious fact that sustainable forestry requires a sustainable workforce’’ — Eduardo Rojas-Briales

Forestry contractors are reporting major challenges in remaining viable due to lack of work or inconsistent work opportunities, as well as low incomes because many believe that price rates especially for forest establishment are too low. In addition, many contractors who have sufficient work programmes, are finding it difficult to recruit and hold on to staff as alternative employment in construction is proving more attractive.

This situation is not unique to forestry as agriculture has experienced similar problems in recent months in areas such as dairy and silage-making. Nor, is it unique to Ireland.

Eduardo Rojas-Briales, head of the forestry department at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN pointed out in Guide to Good Practice in Contract Labour in Forestry that the forestry workforce comprised “small or very small enterprises, which therefore face major challenges in terms of occupational safety and health and economic viability as they lack a strong structure of cooperation and mutual support”.

Unlike agriculture where contractors have sufficient work, some forestry contractors have gone out of business mainly because the annual afforestation programme has fallen by 30% over the past 10 years and is less than half the programme achieved 15 years ago.

Those staying in business have shifted work from afforestation to reforestation and maintenance, and if they have the expertise, capital and machinery, they can diversify to harvesting but few have this flexibility or investment potential.

Forestry contractors and their staff are vital to a successful forestry programme including the following operations in the pre-harvesting phase:

Nursery

Nursery plant production in Ireland is carried out by the two main nurseries – None-So-Hardy and Coillte – as well as a number of smaller outlets. Forestry nursery contractors and their workforce are responsible for the production of up to 40m plants annually.

“These are the people who physically deliver the planting programme and make it all happen,” said Teige Ryan, of None-So-Hardy Nurseries which supplies virtually all the plants for the afforestation programme in Ireland.

“The nursery ensures plant quality and health from seed for the first three years until it reaches the planting site, and the forest contractor will continue this care for a further four years until the plantation is fully established. The strike rate and success of these crops is testament to the honest and hard work carried out by the contractors.”

Forest

He stressed that a good relationship between nursery, forester, forestry contractor and staff is essential in delivering a viable forestry programme. He outlined the daily operations where nursery and forest work intersect as plants are delivered to afforestation and reforestation sites around the country. “These drop-offs are made at first daylight, usually long distances from the planters’ homes and often in difficult weather conditions,” he said.”

Planting and maintenance

Jerome Browne, director of Scartaglin Forestry Services Ltd, outlined some of the challenges facing his Kerry company and forestry contractors nationwide. He carries out forest establishment and maintenance work for Coillte and the private sector including the Irish Forest Unit Trust (IForUT) and forestry companies.

He employs up to eight people at peak periods and maintains it is difficult to hold on to staff. “Prices for afforestation and reforestation work are now too tight to provide a reasonable standard of living for contractor and staff, especially in reforestation work which we mainly carry out for Coillte,” he said.

He agrees with the sentiments expressed last week by Michael Fleming that many farmers who would have planted in the past are now avoiding forestry. The hen harrier-designated areas have reduced the land bank of suitable forestry land considerably, he said.

He also claimed that the risk associated with establishing and managing a forest is now too high when windblow, fire, mammal and frost damage are factored in and he believes that the Department needs to share this risk.

While Teige and Jerome agree that the forestry and nursery contractors and workers are key to the success of the forestry programme, they believe they are undervalued by the sector. Working conditions are difficult and remuneration does not reflect their input .

Daragh Little, chair of the Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association, said that the importance of forestry contractors in achieving a viable forestry programme is often either taken for granted or forgotten. He agrees with Jerome Browne that contractors have not been allowed to increase rates for many years and has called for “an increase of 20%” to cover extra costs incurred by forestry companies and contractors.

“The industry should be creating jobs if the government’s increased planting targets are to be honoured,” said Teige Ryan. “With no new contractors coming into the sector, we cannot afford to lose existing personnel, so the immediate requirement is to speed up the afforestation application process just to maintain the current level of employment.”

In addition to remuneration and ensuring a consistent workflow, the need for training at national level was also stressed by Jerome Browne. The Irish Farmers Journal will return to the subject of training forestry operatives next week.