The Department Inspectors carry out harvesting, post harvesting and reforestation inspections. With regard to harvesting and post harvesting inspections the focus is primarily on water quality related issues that may be caused by breaches of the licence resulting mainly by machine traffic when harvesting and extracting timber from the site.
To date most inspections carried out during harvesting have occurred following a report of an alleged pollution incident.
Reforestation inspections are focused on whether replanting had taken place after clearfell and in cases where the site was replanted whether the site was fully stocked with the tree species as specified in the licence.
There are procedures that Inspectors follow in carrying out these activities. Where there are breaches of licences, or alleged illegal fellings DAFM may issue replanting orders or instigate legal proceedings.
Harvesting and reforestation sites are currently being selected by the Department as part of a systematic inspection regime for 2022.
In relation to Coillte sites, harvesting site visits have already started in relation to this 2022 programme of inspections. In support of this work, Coillte now submit to the Department a weekly table of active harvesting sites from which the Department select a sample of forest areas to visit, either during or after harvesting has taken place. In relation to reforestation some 381 sites (private and Coillte) have been selected for inspection.
All sites are subject to appropriate assessment screening and most sites are screened in for appropriate assessment. Part of the Standard Operating Procedures ensures that the conditions attached to the Appropriate Assessment Determination are checked for compliance on the ground.
