The Department is committed to addressing the backlog in licences. Project Woodland has been established and working groups are actively examining the backlog with the aim of improving the rate of licensing in accordance with environmental compliance. The afforestation scheme is a demand-led scheme and its participation is voluntary. The Government's target is to aim to achieve an afforestation rate of 8,000 hectares and the area planted in any particular year is dependent on a wide number of factors.
The Irish forestry sector currently has approximately 4,300 hectares of available land licenced and ready to plant since last year. In addition, the Department has approved 1,700 new hectares year to date. It is essential that every licence is used if possible as any non-utilisation is a waste of everybody's valuable resources.
The size of the nursery sector and forests sector is dependent on the total forest estate and projected harvesting rates which is forecast to increase significantly from approximately four million cubic metres to close to eight million cubic metres by 2035. This level of harvest will see an increase in road construction and increased areas of reforestation as areas are felled into the future. Taking into consideration that the State has invested over €3 billion in forestry supports over the last 30 years significant economic activity will occur due to increased harvesting.
However, I acknowledge that an effective and efficient licensing system is essential to drive that activity and the Department is committed to addressing the current issues associated with the backlog. Achieving increased levels of afforestation and reforestation will determine the size of the nursery sector and my Department will continue to put in place measures to encourage landowners to plant trees on their holdings.
