Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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First, I appreciate the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, coming in and taking this Topical Issue himself. Deputy Doyle has a keen interest in land use type. We had much discussion about that in the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he chaired it. The Minister of State has considerable experience of the uplands. He is aware of the fact that before farming took over, uplands sustained forestry in their natural state.

The issue is something that seems to be becoming prevalent with schemes that are being brought forward in areas such as housing and agriculture. The basic concept of the scheme is fantastic that we would grow more woodlands of native species but as one drills into the conditions, one finds that less people are able to avail of the scheme.

Obviously, people right throughout the State would like to grow hardwoods. There are many, particularly those with land of not such good quality, who would like to avail of the scheme but the problem is that under the Land Types for Afforestation 2017 manual that applies to the native woodland grant and premium categories, GPCs 9 and 10, one cannot get the grant or premium if the land is incapable of growing a crop of yield class 14 Sitka spruce. They use Sitka spruce as an indicative crop. That is a highly commercial crop but our reasons for planting hardwoods are far beyond commercial forestry. The Minister of State would accept that the reasons the State is so keen on native woodlands include the habitat they provide from an ecological point of view because of the timber it provides in the long term, but not necessarily that these provide the most commercial timber crop, and also the ecological advantages because of carbon sequestration. It is worthy of note, when one looks at Norway's policies, that it would appear they are much more willing to plant these uplands on the basis that they were naturally planted.

There is an irony in one case that came to me that it is within a mile and a half of the biggest timber mill in the country. Be that as it may, it is still being excluded from this woodland grant.

One farmer who raised this issue with me - this is a widespread problem - stated that he had planted timber previously. He had alder that grew to 8 ft in six years. He had sown 20 years ago a softwood pine and it is at 35 ft. He had grown birch trees with success in small quantities on the same land.

I ask the Minister of State to review the rules and determine the purpose of the scheme. Is it as I outlined, namely, for the purpose of having more broadleaves or hardwoods for the benefit of the ecology and habitats? If it is, should we require a high rate of commercial productivity or, rather, have separate rules for native woodland hardwood species?

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge what the Minister of State said towards the end of his reply but 374 ha of native woodland will not have a significant impact in terms of producing more high-value nature areas or bringing any great biodiversity, etc. While I welcome the 374 ha of new woodland, it is of minuscule impact when considered in terms of the entire country. The Department is basically excluding huge swathes of land that is not very productive in terms of sheep, cattle or other farming but must be put to some use because land that is allowed to grow wild is a disaster from an environmental point of view, as the Minister of State, as an upland farmer, is aware. The current rules are akin to stating that it would not be permitted to use such land for sheep or cattle because there would not be a high yield class. Much of this land could be used for native woodland. Obviously, the farmer would not get a massive economic return but many farmers in such circumstances are not expecting that. However, they need to get enough of a premium to make it valuable to plant these woodlands for the very reasons outlined in the Minister of State's very articulate reply. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider the scheme in the context of the areas of the country which are now excluded from any forestry. Special areas of conservation, SACs, and natural heritage areas almost completely excluded from forestry. However, many other areas are now excluded because they do not have a sufficiently high yield class. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider the scheme and recognise that disadvantaged areas require special measures.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To clarify, the only option in some SACs and acid-sensitive areas where conifer plantations are not permitted is a native woodland scheme. The Deputy was incorrect to state otherwise. In my part of the country, a native woodland scheme is the only option in areas where conifers may not be planted due to acid-sensitive water test results. That may not be the preferred choice of some landowners or farmers.

The mid-term review included an increase in the minimum number of broadleaves from 10% to 15%. Every conifer plantation must comprise at least 15% broadleaves, although not necessarily mean native woodland species. However, hillside sites such as Derrybawn in Glendalough which were cleared of conifers now support certain native species of broadleaves.

The current forestry programme will run until 2020. The Department and I are trying to roll out the next programme and harmonise it with the next Common Agricultural Policy to reflect many measures in the environmental pillar. In many ways, forestry is the low-hanging fruit. Conifers perform better in terms of various standards and qualities regarding economic performance and carbon sequestration whereas broadleaves and native woodlands in particular have the advantage in areas such as biodiversity. We need to be cognisant of marrying those potentially complementary characteristics.

Although I am not an agronomist or silviculture expert, the basic point is that if the soil type is capable of supporting native woodland species, such planting should be allowed. However, although the fact that an area is an SAC precludes conifer plantation, it does not necessarily preclude the planting of native woodland species.