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DEAR SIR: A climate and ecological emergency has been declared by the Irish Government. Those of us who are part of the Irish forestry industry know that we have an afforestation emergency too.
Minister Creed and the forest service are barking up the wrong tree if they think Coillte entering into the land market will be the answer to the collapse of the planting programme. The collapse of the programme is caused by two factors:
1) Cutting the supply of land most eminently suitable for afforestation, eg the 20% rule (which restricts planting to enclosed land) and the hen harrier fiasco. Both these restrictions are without scientific or any other rational justification.
2) The lack of the ability of the forest service to process planting applications. Three year ago we planted 6,500ha without any problem.
The introduction of further regulation without ensuring the resources were in place to process them has resulted in an own goal.
Who has suffered from this? Mainly farmers, forestry companies and nurseries, but also not being able to meet planting targets.
Forest planting in Scotland, 50% funded by the EU, is at 11,200ha this season and rising. This planting is on a species bedrock of 60% productive and 40% environmental land.
Irish farmers planted up to 38% broadleaves before ash dieback was detected, illustrating that they are up to the task of carrying out a biodiverse afforestation programme. The idea that Coillte – that has discounted all broadleaves in its farmers’ partnership scheme – should have any role in the afforestation programme is a delusion, but a dangerous one that will bring Coillte into future disrepute and help destroy the afforestation sector.
This sector, in partnership with farmers, is the only proven way to achieve planting targets and exceed them in an environmentally acceptable fashion. In the last three years, over 50% of applications have disappeared into a black hole.
The process is so drawn out that confidence evaporates, the forester is undermined and the farmer humiliated. If applications had been processed efficiently, we would have had no problem achieving a sustainable programme.
Minister Creed now needs to show leadership at the cabinet table as well as supporting the Minister of State with responsibility for forestry to ensure a viable afforestation programme.
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