Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The first line of the committee’s report captures the main issues we are discussing this evening. It states that it is a challenging time in the forestry sector. The committee has repeatedly heard that it is a time of crisis. The sector is expected to respond constructively to the current backlog in forestry licenses. Ireland has a native forestry industry but the backlog has effectively curtailed domestic activity, leading to a reliance on imports. This is just unbelievable. Although the report was published in March, the situation remains largely unchanged. Like other Deputies, I am regularly contacted by local forestry businesses, landowners and communities that are all deeply frustrated by the backlog in our licensing system. Not only is this affecting the economic side of forestry but it is also preventing communities such as Kealkill in my area from planting trees. They want trees in public spaces and on publicly owned land for people to enjoy, but it seems they may have to wait for two years to achieve that.

While the new system brought in by the Government last year is processing more licences, it still seems to be very insufficient. If the community of Kealkill is facing two years, the figures the Minister of State gave are confusing. Are they just for felling or do they also include planting? When she states the period is down to 11 months, does she mean applications such as the one in question will see a reduction as a result?

I had tabled amendments to the forestry Bill that would have allowed for a more efficient system that would have balanced the commercial and environmental dimensions. I specifically included amendments that guaranteed the timely processing of licences and appeals. It was rejected by the Minister at the time. The report from the Government-majority committee recommends an agreed timeframe should be introduced for licensing applications and the appeals process to provide certainty to applicants. This is the very thing the Minister refused last year. While I am aware it is common practice to reject every amendment coming from the Opposition, it baffles me that we have waited until now to do what I proposed when we could have done it initially. The fundamental problem that existed before the enactment of the forestry Bill still exists in that licence appealed are not being decided upon in a timely enough manner. Until it is addressed, this disastrous situation will continue.

I particularly welcome the committee’s call on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deliver a specific strategy to increase the proportion of broadleaf afforestation. Planting the right types of trees is just as important as drastically increasing forestation. Native broadleaf species are considerably better for our environment and are part of our natural heritage. Only a few centuries ago, most of Ireland was covered in native woodlands with incredibly rich ecosystems. It is possible to recreate areas of natural forest across the country, and this type of approach is essential to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis. Our focus should be on preserving and expanding our natural biome of primary deciduous forests. There must be rewilding strategies and incentives to convert portions of land to native forest.

Planting along watercourses is a natural flood prevention measure, while forestry on every farm would help to generate a connected wildlife corridor throughout the country. I hope the committee will focus on that. Unfortunately, I could not become a member of the committee, despite my best efforts.

Connected to my point on biodiversity is the report’s recommendation for greater supports to encourage farmers to enter and remain within a forestry programme. Almost 20,000, or 15%, of farmers have diversified into forestry, resulting in 270,000 ha of grant-aided forest land. However, this figure could and should be much greater.

Speaking at a meeting of the committee, representatives of the IFA and other bodies highlighted the need for more incentives to help farmers to move to this model. The MacKinnon review mentions delays, uncertainties and perceptions of excessive bureaucracy as disincentives to farmers. I can speak from experience in that my family planted half the farm with native forestry around the time small dairy farms became unviable after the then Minister, Deputy Coveney, lifted the milk quota. During the general election campaign, I remember somebody saying to me that they would not vote for me because my family had ruined the farm with trees. I am aware, therefore, that we still have cultural resistance to forestry in this country. There was resistance from my family too in that we always had livestock all over the farm. It was a difficult transition but the forest is now genuinely everyone's favourite part of the farm. That needs to be realised more broadly.

We need a clear strategy to address these concerns and put all of the programmes in place that encourage planting of native broadleaf trees and provide income to family farms. It is important to note the importance of the knowledge transfer programme for forestry and its continuation.

The report also identifies the recreational input of forestry as natural spaces for families and communities to be active and have improved contact with the environment. Last year, Coillte announced that nine Dublin forests would transition away from commercial activities of felling and replanting cycles and towards planting native broadleaf varieties. At the time, I wrote to the senior Minister and met Coillte to push for a national roll-out of that approach. West Cork already has amazing recreational forests, such as Glengarriff nature reserve and the woods at Dromkeen near Innishannon, but the use of sites that are currently only commercial would increase our natural and tourism resources. I again call on the Minister to work towards ensuring this model is applied throughout the country and not just in Dublin.

On a related matter, there are local concerns in respect of the sale of forestry land. For example, a substantial section of forest near Riverstick in Cork is currently for sale on the instructions of Coillte and the local community is rightly concerned that it will lose that lovely natural amenity. I am pursuing the matter with Coillte but, in addition, the Minister needs to review the practice in respect of the sale of forestry land at a time we should be greatly increasing afforestation.

One of the most concerning findings of the Mackinnon document was the consistent theme that emerged during the review of a lack of political commitment and priority from the Government for woodland creation. Only a fraction of the afforestation targets this year have been met. Although the Mackinnon review referred to previous governments, it also seems to apply to this Government. I hope that will change.

See this speech in context