Our forestry focus by Donal Magner this week comes at a time when the forestry sector is in a better place to where it was 12-24 months ago.

We are often critical of our politicians but credit where it’s due, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Michael Healy-Rae appears to have a good command of his brief in the forestry sector, with the recently published mid-term review (MTR) receiving a broadly positive welcome from all those involved in the forestry sector.

Despite the positivity around the MTR, huge challenges remain within the sector. While afforestation increased last year to 2,527 ha, interest has fallen back in recent months according to those involved in the establishment of forests around the country.

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At current planting levels, last year’s performance is unlikely to be maintained, and this will make the Government’s target of achieving an 8,000 ha planting programme very difficult.

However, rather than dwell on the negatives of not achieving this target, the MTR concentrates on a number of practical changes that would create the climate to improve afforestation and other aspects of the forestry and forest products sector.

These include supports and incentives for afforestation and support measures for existing forest owners. A simplified “farmer” definition will now be in place for the remainder of the Forestry Programme from 2023-2027 to allow easier access to farm families who may not have kept BISS up to date.

These farmers will qualify for the 20-year premium period.

There is also some flexibility for planting in peat soils. Currently, afforestation is precluded where peat depths are greater than 30cm, but the new changes could allow supports for areas over this threshold by taking a more flexible approach.

The Minister has introduced flexibility in planting native species at elevations over 180m sea level in the east, and 120m sea level in the west. Planting may take place in sheltered sites above this elevation.

Fencing grants have also been increased. Agroforestry premiums have been increased from €975/ha to €1,170/ha as part of the review.

Other areas of improvement include a 20% grant increase in forest road construction and a road engineering grant of €1,500 to ensure access to forests, which is essential to maximise the flow of timber to sawmills and board mills.

Timber in construction

It will be interesting to see the final report of the Minister’s Timber in Construction Steering Group (TCSG), which Des O’Toole discusses.

Sitka spruce is well capable of supplying the timber frame housing markets as well as medium-rise buildings where regulations currently limit Irish buildings to 10m, unlike the continent where mass timber construction is exceeding 80m.

Forestry relationship

Forestry should be seen as a land use that complements rather than competes with agriculture, which requires a balanced approach between both sustainable land uses.

There are parts of the country, particularly in the west and border regions, where the very thought of planting land was instilled as a negative into young farmers’ minds and almost a last-ditch option when all else failed.

That narrative still exists in some areas today, and unless we rethink our relationship with forestry and how it interacts with our farms, we won’t make progress in hitting our targets.

It doesn’t need to be a trees or farming argument, and there are plenty of examples of how trees and conventional farming can work hand-in-hand together.

Over the years, there probably hasn’t been enough encouragement or support for farmers to look at smaller areas of their holdings to plant with trees.

These areas are essentially the wetter areas of farms which don’t lend themselves very well to conventional farming but are very suitable for forestry.

The recently published MTR can help restore confidence in a beleaguered sector, but issues outlined by Paddy Bruton such as the compatibility of forestry and other land use supports will be key in the next CAP. Long-term, the Irish forest cover can increase from 11.5% at present to 18%, less than half the EU average, over time without reducing agricultural output.

This can occur if planting takes place on suitable marginal land, where forest yields are up to three times higher than most European countries.