Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2006

Department of Agriculture and Food

Afforestation Programme

10:00 am

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 399: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in advance of any legislative reform of the Forestry Acts, she is waiving or is prepared to waive the replanting obligation to allow habitat restoration in sensitive areas where forestry is proving uneconomic or has been associated with significant environmental damage. [40429/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are two type of Felling Licence in operation at present, i.e. a General Felling Licence and a Limited Felling Licence. In relation to Limited Felling Licences, Section 41 of the Forestry Act 1946 provides that the Minster may, under certain conditions, release the licensee from the obligation to comply with all or any of the replanting conditions imposed or alternatively reduce the number of trees to be planted by the licensee. Where a General Felling Licence is in operation, which is the normal type of licence used for commercial harvesting, there is still provision to exclude areas from the replanting obligation on environmental grounds, following the detailed consultation process that all felling licence applications go through. The procedure here is to make such areas subject to a Limited Felling Licence instead and the Minister can then release the licensee from any associated replanting obligation.

Any decision to waive the replanting obligation contained in a Limited Felling Licence for environmental reasons is considered on a case by case basis following detailed examination and assessment by my Department's Forest Inspectorate, and in consultation with the environmental bodies such as National Parks and Wildlife Service, Fisheries Boards and local authorities.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.