O’Callaghan demands action as forestry crisis deepens

ACTION is being sought from the Department of Agriculture to support those who invested in forestry, but now find themselves facing red tape and delays in securing their nest egg. Councillor Alan O’Callaghan was among those who recently attended a virtual meeting on the deepening crisis in the forestry sector, organised by senior members of Fianna Fáil. He said that many in Clare have been “left in limbo” over delays with the issuing of forestry licences, particularly those for thinning and felling. He also said that many of the 30 people in attendance raised concerns over compensation for ash die-back in their plantations. Councillor O’Callaghan also warned that unless the forestry sector is made more attractive, the entire farming community will suffer as a result of an increased obligation to reduce carbon emissions.

At the end of the two-hour Zoom meeting, it was agreed that the issue would be pursued through the tabling of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) with a view to progress in the coming weeks.

“There is huge concern at national and local level for many people in the forestry sector,” said the Kilmurry-based public representative. “The only conclusion that we could arrive at, at the meeting, was that the delays are being caused by the Department. That’s where the hold-up is. We’re hearing that only 65 licences a week are being issued and there’s a backlog of around 4,500 nationally. People are looking for thinning licences as well as felling licences and permission to for road access and these delays are not good enough.”

The Killaloe area councillor pointed out that people have made long-term investments with a view to funding their retirement. “There are people who have had a lot of land tied up for 30 to 35 years. The forestry is their pension plan and now they’re just left in limbo.”

The meeting, which was organised by Deputies Éamon Ó Cuiv and Jackie Cahill, Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine, heard from individual farmers and co-operatives as well as those in the tree-felling business. “People are very concerned across the board,” Councillor O’Callaghan said.

According to the most recent data from Teagasc, dating to 2019, more than 17% of Clare is under forestry. Over the last six months, calls for a total overhaul of the Department of Agriculture’s forestry licensing process have intensified. Last year, around 250,000 tonnes of timber was imported by Irish sawmills because of the delay in felling and processing trees here. The shortage of raw material for the construction industry is approaching crisis levels, some experts have warned.

“There is huge frustration at this stage,” said Councillor O’Callaghan. “Plantations have matured and so have the people that own them, and there’s a massive hold-up in licences. At the same time, there’s a timber shortage and it has to be imported. The Department really have to get on top of this. Inevitably, there will be major problems created for other farming sectors. If people can’t replant lands, there will be an issue for our carbon credits and the burden will fall on the beef and dairy sectors. The way the forestry sector is going, there are people who will exit it and many who won’t get into it in the first place. We’ve got to see action take and it has to be in a matter of weeks, not months, at this stage.”

According to the IFA, 272 forest licences were issued in February, compared to 349 in January. The majority (168) were issued to the private sector and 104 were issued to Coillte.

The licences to private operators, issued last month, included 48 for afforestation; 66 for forest roads; and 54 for felling.

In 2020, there  were only 2,488 hectares of forestry planted, compared to the government’s own target of 8,000 hectares.

Last month, the Department of Agriculture set up Project Woodland chaired by the Secretary General, Brendan Gleeson, to overhaul the forestry sector.

According to Junior Minister Pippa Hackett, one area of work will concentrate on the licensing backlog. The initiative will also develop a vision for forestry, examine the  organisational structure of the forestry service, and streamline the licensing process for the future.