The changes introduced as part of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, allowed the introduction of Regulations to facilitate small scale planting of native tree areas without the need to first obtain an afforestation licence.
Introducing an exemption for the afforestation in certain circumstances facilitates the exclusion of clearly defined activities from requiring an afforestation licence.
This exemption is an enabling proposal that allows forests to be created through initiatives, other than the afforestation scheme, thereby contributing to Ireland’s targets in relation to a wide range of environmental priorities particularly climate change, biodiversity and water quality.
My Department launched the Native Tree Area Scheme on 4 October to allow for the creation of forests of under 1ha without an afforestation licence, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme.
It is the responsibility of an applicant to familiarise themselves with the Scheme Terms and Conditions, the specification, and any amendments thereof and with the consequences for breaches of the Scheme.
All tree planting works are required to be undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner, details of the scheme can be found on my Departments website here: gov.ie - Native Tree Area Scheme (www.gov.ie)
