A number of developments have taken place in the Irish forestry and forest products industry over the past year that can be the stimulus for a new drive in investment and job creation.

These include restoration of tax-free status for forest income and increased grants and annual premium payments (also tax free) for both farmers and other investors.

The publication of the Land Availability report is also supportive, as it identified an increased land bank with potential for forestry.

The litmus test for a viable forest industry is the creation of productive forests, which supply the raw material for Irish timber processors, who now export 75% of products.

18% of land to be afforested

The government has pledged to implement the recommendations of the Land Availability report, which would increase annual afforestation to 15,000ha, resulting in 18% of the land under forest by 2050, without negatively affecting agricultural production.

Daragh Little, forestry managing director with Veon, the Irish forest management and investment company, believes that Ireland has major advantages over other EU member states. “For example, growth rates in Irish forests are three times faster than northern European forests and, as a result, the industry is now attracting considerable interest from domestic and overseas investors,” says Daragh.

The sector now employs over 12,000 people in Ireland and contributes close to €2.3 billion annually to Ireland’s GDP.

Renewable energy jobs

Job opportunities extend beyond traditional forest management to areas such as renewable energy. For example, there are approximately 2,000 direct jobs in bioenergy, of which wood is a major component, according to Michael Hegarty, general manager of the Irish Bioenergy Association.

“The Government has promised new support schemes for heat and electricity from bioenergy, which has the potential to support over 3,000 direct new jobs” says Michael.

There will also be job opportunities in “non-wood” areas, including landscape planning, ecology and research, especially into forestry and climate change mitigation, which can benefit agriculture.

“In the last few years, employment opportunities have returned in the state and semi-state sector,” maintained Dr Aine Ní Dhubhain, senior lecturer in UCD.

“Both the Forest Service and Coillte have taken on new staff and diversification in the forestry sector, such as the development of the wood energy market, will lead to further employment opportunities for forestry graduates,” she said.

If you are interested in a career in the agri-industry, come along to the Irish Farmers Journal and open eir Agri Careers Fair, which takes place in the RDS on 3 March 2016. For more information, click here.