The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued 243 afforestation licences relating to 2,008ha so far this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This figure is in line with the first six months of 2022 when licences for 2020ha were issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also marks a significant improvement on the same period last year when licences for just 136ha were granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Forestry Licencing Plan 2024 estimates that 1,000 afforestation applications would be the required to meet planting targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest Forestry Dashboard, published by the department, shows that 359 valid afforestation applications had been submitted up to last Friday (June 21).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The department data shows that 656ha of land had been afforested up to June 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The DAFM notes that this only reflects afforestation that as been paid at first grant stage this year to date, including the Native Tree Area Scheme (NTAS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reacting to the figures, the Social, Economic, Environmental Forestry Association (SEEFA) said that it has taken almost six months to achieve what should be “the average monthly pace”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“This disappointingly low figure is a clear result of DAFM’s mismanagement of the sector, marked by years of insufficient licensing and ineffective marketing and promotional efforts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
“Landowners and farmers communicate with SEEFA members and are ready and willing to plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“However, lacklustre incentives, untenable barriers to plant, and uncertainty over licencing are causing unnecessary blockages,” the organisation said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2022, 2,273ha of forestry was planted, this figure dropped to 1,652ha last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forest cover in Ireland represents 11.6% of the total land area in comparison to the EU average of 38%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government has set an annual target of 8,000ha of new forests to be planted in order to increase the national forestry<\/a> area to 18%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DAFM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The latest department figures show that 895 felling licences relating to almost 10,800ha had been issued by June 21, which includes 544 private licences and 351 for Coillte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the week up to last Friday, the department issued 11 thinning licences for 199ha and 56 clear fell licences covering 523ha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
453 licences have also been granted so far this year by the department for 166km of forestry roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The data shows that 250 NTAS applications have been issued for 273ha, while 155 applications (599ha) under the Deer Tree Shelter Scheme (DTS) have been approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
444 applications submitted for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme have been granted, covering 1,658ha<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DAFM has received 29 afforestation appeals, tree felling appeals and four forest roads appeals to date this year.<\/p>\n\n\n