I propose to take Questions Nos. 1976, 1977, 1985, 2025 and 2031 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 albeit 2020 was a low output year.
A revised target of 4,000 was advised to the sector last summer, following the introduction of a second mandatory public consultation period on foot of S.1 293 of 2021, which inevitably interrupted licence output.
In terms of the categories of each type of licence issued, these approvals included 2,877 felling licences. Critically, the availability of this volume of timber, at nearly 8.5 million cubic metres, stabilised supply to the processing sector in 2021. This is the highest volume ever issued in a single year. In addition, 264 kilometres of forest roads were licensed more than double the target in the Climate Action Plan 2019. This is also the highest ever volume of forest roads issued in a single year. The number afforestation licences remained static, with 502 afforestation licences issued, which represents 4,245ha of forestry.
As regards targets for 2022, which are currently being finalised, this year we will build on the momentum achieved in 2021 and will focus on increasing the number of afforestation licences issued. We will continue to keep resources under review and will implement all practical process improvements which result from the review and analysis in train under Project Woodland.
I remain fully committed to delivering a licensing system which will meets the needs of the sector and of society and recent licensing trends demonstrate that we making progress towards achieving this.
A county breakdown of licences issued is attached.
Forestry Licences