Forestry chair Pat Collins has said that although there have been some positive changes in the 2020 Midterm Review of the Forestry Programme, he is disappointed that the review did not do enough to address the challenge to restore afforestation levels.

At a meeting last week, the forestry committee discussed with minister of state Andrew Doyle the issues that are impeding the expansion of the sector.

Collins said he was frustrated that an opportunity had been missed to increase the land available to forestry by removing the 20% restriction on planting productive unenclosed land and reintroducing a farmer forest premium differential to increase farmer planting rates.

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“If we are to increase the afforestation programme and achieve the national targets, all land that has the productive capacity to grow commercial timber crop must be eligible under the Afforestation Scheme.

‘‘Removing the restrictions on planting this land type would have increased the geographical spread of the afforestation programme and reduced pressure on counties in the northwest, as well as the negative discourse,” he said.

The forestry chair welcomed the 2% increase in forest premiums for GPC 3, although he said he had reservations that it is not enough to stimulate the level of planting to achieve 2018 afforestation target of 7,200ha.

One of the biggest changes in the review is to the Agro-Forestry and Forestry for Fibre schemes where premium payments have been increased by 60% and 65%, rising to €615/ha and €510/ha, respectively. In addition, the term of premium payments for the Forestry for Fibre scheme increased from 10 to 15 years.

Collins said he recognised that the Agro-forestry and Forestry for Fibre schemes have a place in a modern afforestation programme but questioned whether farmers would adapt at any scale until replanting obligation was removed.

“Many farmers got burnt with the miscanthus in the past. I believe if we are serious about farmers trialling these new schemes then it will only work if the replanting obligation is removed.

“I very much welcome the additional supports for farmers with broadleaf forests. The extension of the Woodland Improvement Scheme to the non-grant-aided forests, as well as the additional second thinning grant of €500/ha, is very important to encourage and support farmers to manage their forests.’’