Holly Cairns
Ceist:91. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that he is taking to increase the low national rate of afforestation. [53209/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 25 October 2022
Ceisteanna (91)
Freagraí scríofa
Increasing the area under forestry in the country remains a key priority for me and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAMF). I am acutely aware of the afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year set out in the Climate Action Plan and the fact that afforestation rates have been declining in recent years. I established Project Woodland in 2021 in response to this challenge, to drive forward the planting of trees under a shared vision for forestry in Ireland.
As the Deputy may know, the current Forestry Programme provides supports for afforestation including grants and premiums and covers the cost of establishing a forest. Despite strong support for landowners over a period of 15 years, we have not achieved the level of planting anticipated. I acknowledge that delays in the issuing of afforestation licences have had an impact on afforestation rates in recent years.
We are working on changing the narrative and the extensive public consultation carried out this year indicates that many in society are positively disposed towards trees and wish to see more of them.
I am pleased to say that we have made much progress in relation to the licensing issue. There has been a 47% increase in afforestation licences issued up to 30th September this year as compared to the same period last year.
We set ourselves an ambitious target of 5,250 licences this year, in our Forestry Licensing Plan, and we are at 92% of expected output at this stage of the year.
Specifically in relation to afforestation, by 21st October 2022, my Department had received 339 fresh applications, while 578 afforestation licences have issued, in fact there are currently 953 approved afforestation licences with just under 7,000 hectares ready for planting. Furthermore, the pace of processing of these applications has picked up significantly.
I am hopeful that we will continue the positive momentum on the issuing of licences and that going forward licence issue will prove no barrier to afforestation applications.
In order to realise our ambitions in terms of afforestation, considerable work that has been undertaken this year in developing a vision for a new future for forestry in Ireland. I am referring to the recently published Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 , which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. The Vision has informed a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland which has been developed by Working Group 2 of Project Woodland.
In parallel, a draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan has also been developed to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of the Forest Strategy .
The draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan were published on Tuesday 18th October and are now subject to a six-week public consultation process. This means that stakeholders and interested parties are aware of the measures and Schemes that are being proposed for the next Forestry Programme and may submit their feedback on all elements.
Alongside this public consultation process, the Department is currently engaged in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree funding.
I intend to publish the financial supports for the new Programme at the earliest opportunity.
It is my intention to introduce a programme which will deliver for society, for landowners and for the forestry sector in Ireland. Its objective will be to expand the national forest estate on both private and public land.
I hope to incentivise farmers, in particular, to re-engage with forestry and we hope to offer increases in grants and premiums to enable land-use change.
A comprehensive and well-subscribed forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life.