Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comments and for raising this very important issue. Native woodlands are perhaps the most complex and biodiverse habitats in the country. They include ancient oak and ash woodlands, some of which are more than 400 years old, recently planted woodlands and naturally emerging woodlands such as birch wood colonising cutaway bog. As well as representing reservoirs of biodiversity, they deliver other important ecosystem services such as water and soil protection, wider habitat linkage and carbon sequestration. Native woodlands also have a significant economic potential as a source of quality hardwood, renewable energy and other wood and non-wood products, and as the basis for enterprises offering outdoor activities. In addition, they represent an invaluable resource for local communities to enjoy their local natural heritage.

The Department operates a package of measures to encourage farmers and other landowners to create new native woodland and restore existing native woodland. Approximately 1,000 ha of native woodlands have been established under Forestry Programme 2014-2020. The programme also set a target of 1,950 ha for native woodland restoration projects. A budget provision of almost €24 million has been set aside for these initiatives.

As the Deputy stated, two of the grant and premium categories in the current forestry programme are specifically targeted at native woodland establishment. These planting categories attract the highest grant and premium rates of all categories under the Department’s afforestation scheme. The mid-term review of the forestry programme, completed early last year, further increased the rates to encourage more landowners to plant native trees. The premium is now paid each year for 15 years at a rate of €665 per hectare. In 2018, a total of 374 ha of new native woodland was planted, a 38% increase over the previous year and 83% of target. These forests will become a long-lasting feature of the landscape, providing environmental benefits on an ongoing basis and adding colour and diversity that can be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike.

In 2018, my Department introduced the woodland environmental fund. This initiative provides an opportunity for businesses to partner with the Government and Irish landowners to get behind the national effort to plant an additional 5 million native trees between now and 2020. Under the fund, businesses can be associated with individual native woodlands and use the environmental benefits linked to these forests to demonstrate they are meeting their corporate social responsibilities. There has been considerable interest from corporate Ireland in the initiative and I am confident it will result in the establishment of additional new native woodlands.

With regard to extending the eligibility criteria for establishing native woodlands to include land associated with lower yield classes, my concern would be that such land may not support native tree species. The current requirement is that the land be yield class 14 or greater. Yield class is measured in units of cubic metres per hectare that a particular plantation will grow per annum. Suitable sites must be capable of supporting the vigorous growth and sustainable long-term development of these native trees, based on minimal site preparation and inputs. Recent increases in afforestation levels for native woodlands demonstrate the positive impact existing measures are having on this planting category. In this regard, the Department will continue to promote the establishment of native woodlands through the afforestation scheme.

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