Written answers

Thursday, 23 June 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Sector

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total hectares of afforestation applied for each year since 2014 and the actual hectares planted each year for the same period in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33459/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department makes available various forestry statistics on its website, particularly the Forestry Divisional Monthly Reports, which may be found here gov.ie - gov.ie - Forestry Division Monthly Reports (www.gov.ie) 

The table below shows the applications received in hectares and also the number of hectares planted from 2014 to 2022:

Year Hectares of Afforestation applications received Hectares planted
2014 17,594 6,156
2015 15,855 3,595
2016 13,280 6,299
2017 11,483 5,495
2018 8,623 5,820
2019 7,756 3,495
2020 7,070 2,434
2021 4,606 2,017
To June 2022 1,063ha 1,152

There are a variety of reasons why there has been a decline in the number of afforestation applications in recent years. Interest in afforestation has been impacted by the complexity of the legal and administrative system, judicial decisions, the efficiency of the forestry licensing system, the appetite among landowners to convert land to afforestation usage and, in some areas, complex societal attitudes and responses to afforestation. Both myself and Minister Hackett are very conscious of the need to increase afforestation rates given the target of 8,000 hectares set out in the Climate Action Plan

We have focussed on addressing the licensing issue and  on looking to the future of trees and forests in Ireland under  the framework of Project Woodland.

The licensing situation is improving as a result of increased investment in resources and a continual improvement in processes. We issued 4,050 licences in 2021 and intend to increase this to 5,250 in 2022. We aim to more than double the number of afforestation licences to 1,040 by year end. Last year 502 afforestation licences issued for 4,246 hectares, but only 2016 hectares were planted. This low conversion rate is a challenge. There are currently 5,200 ha in the system, which have a valid approval, but have not gone ahead to planting. We have written to 451 applicants with unused licences to remind them that their licence is still valid and to encourage them to consider using them before their approval lapses. Of those, 28 have contacted us to confirm that they have  commenced planting or have  indicated that they intend to do so this year. 

Communication and positive messaging about the benefits of afforestation is crucial. On most farms, planting can comfortably co-exist with livestock enterprises and can significantly increase the net income from the holding. We must work together to communicate this positive message consistently.

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