The recent decision by Apple not to proceed with its planned data centre in Athenry has once again highlighted the unpredictability of Ireland’s planning process. Since the project was announced three years ago, a similar facility was planned in Denmark, which has not only received planning approval but is now almost complete with a second project well under way. Denmark, Sweden and Ireland had been identified by Apple as locations for data centres by Apple.

All three countries are members of the EU and all offered incentives that prove attractive to companies such as Apple. Ireland fell short because of its cumbersome planning process. However, there is another factor at play which is Ireland’s poor performance in making the transition from a fossil fuel to a green economy.

Countries with ambitious plans to decarbonise their economies such as Sweden and Denmark are not only creating strong indigenous industries but are also attracting overseas investment. Apple is only one of many global corporations that are shifting from a fossil fuel to clean energy source. They have been joined by Panasonic, IBM, Adobe, Ikea, Nike, Unilever and a host of other corporations, and Sweden which bases its viable renewable energy programme on wood energy is an obvious base for companies with a “green” agenda .

Biomass also plays a major role in the green energy transition in Denmark, which plans to achieve 33% of its energy generation from renewables by 2020, exceeding the target of 30% sought by the EU.

In contrast, despite having the best climatic and growing conditions in Europe to maximise biomass production, Ireland will fall well short of meeting its 16% target for renewable energy generation by 2020 and will also struggle to decarbonise its economy by 2050 according to the Climate Change Advisory Council.

Unlike virtually all EU member states, Ireland can increase forest cover from 10.7% of the land area to 17% by 2050 (still, less than half the EU average) without negatively affecting agricultural production and food security.

Forestry is now accepted as a key land use in Ireland’s future bioeconomy as outlined in the COFORD report Growing the Irish Forest Bioeconomy and endorsed in Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework which states: “Irish forestry is a major carbon sink and afforestation is the most significant [climate] mitigation option that is available to Ireland’s land use sector.”

Despite this, increased forestry and forest activity, with its major economic, rural development and climate change benefits, is subject to a planning process that is choking the life out of the sector. Good planning “means ensuring that the right development takes place in the right locations and at the right time,” according to the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government (DHPLG).

Sustainable forestry is the right development at the right time for Ireland as it satisfies all the legal requirements, guidelines and processes which underpin Irish planning, as well as providing carbon sequestration to help decarbonise the economy. Yet, it has to comply with a wide range of restrictions, guidelines and planning conditions which it meets but the recent spate of serial objections are slowly grinding the sector down. If forestry is to play a central role in strategic plans such as Project Ireland 2040, it has to be accepted by the DHPLG and planning authorities as a land use that is vital in making the transition from a fossil fuel to a green economy in Ireland.

Validity

The validity of the recent plethora of blanket objections from individuals and organisations often far removed from the relevant forest sites seeking planning has to be questioned in forestry just as it is in the case of Apple.

“During the review of the Forestry Act 2014, stakeholders warned the Forest Service that the appeals system was far too open and would be abused, and this is now the case,” said one forestry company spokesperson. “Out of the 89 objections to forestry-related applications this year alone, 46 are from one individual covering counties, in all four provinces.” These objections are against planting, harvesting and roading, all crucial operations for forest owners – mainly farmers – timber processors, foresters and forestry contractors, virtually all based in rural Ireland.

“I believe that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be meeting with the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to see how they plan to get through the backlog of objections,” he said. “The main focus should be on dealing with the backlog to free up applications so that land can be planted and timber mobilised.”

FAC, which is part of the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, was established on a statutory basis to deal with appeals against licence applications for afforestation, forest roading, aerial fertilisation and tree felling.

The need for planning is accepted in large-scale forestry developments and aerial fertilisation but all stakeholders contacted, questioned why harvesting, roading and planting should be subject to planning in a country where the annual size of afforestation applications is only 6.5ha.

Sustainable development

Planning that allows sustainable development provides the “social, economic and physical infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of our people and in a way that protects the many qualities of our natural and built environment,” as envisaged by the DHPLG. This is what Apple expected in Ireland but had to go to Denmark to experience.

A more enlightened approach not only to planning is required but also to the bioeconomy, if Ireland wishes to attract investment from companies that are no longer interested in fossil fuel sources for energy generation. This is why forestry needs to be encouraged rather than disincentivised.

This Friday (8 June), there is an opportunity to discuss the planning application challenge in a field day organised by The Society of Irish Foresters, Western Forestry Co-operative and Coillte near Tubbercurry, Co Sligo. The morning session is based in a two-year-old 8ha private forest at Tullycusheen, which will examine the main challenges that foresters face in order to establish forests in the county.

These include biodiversity thresholds, constraints due to archaeological discoveries, local objections to forest establishment, access issues and constraints imposed by local authorities.

In the afternoon, a visit has been organised to a nearby reforestation site which is managed by Coillte. Topics for discussion will include silvicultural objectives while conforming with best forestry practice, in particular the Water Framework Directive.

The discussion will focus on the environmental constraints of fertilising on peat sites and the actual success of various application methods.

  • The field day, which begins at 10.30am on 8 June, is open to all. The meeting point is Murphy’s Hotel, Teeling St, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.