The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said...
Last year is dead they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.
– from The Trees by Philip Larkin.
The first and last two lines of Larkin’s poem, are particularly relevant in these uncertain times. Larkin’s answer to the question: “Is it that they are born again / and we grow old?” is apposite. “No, they die too,” he replies. “Their yearly trick of looking new / Is written down in rings of grain.”
Forest owners who walk their forests at present, do so safe in the knowledge that the trees are performing “their yearly trick” of renewal and regrowth, which will continue long after COVID-19 has abated. So, if the virus interrupts the harvest this year, nothing is lost, as the trees will continue to grow and increase yield for future, albeit delayed, harvests.
Forest owners enjoy this benefit, as do some sections of farming and fishing, which can also survive right now by leaving cattle in the field and fish in the sea, as pointed out in a recent Irish Farmers Journal editorial. All this presupposes that farmers, fishermen and forest owners have the resources to compensate for the short-term cashflow shortfall that arises when harvesting is postponed.
The forest mensuration equation allows the grower to play the long game, where sustainable forest management is practised
In this regard, forestry, which is neither seasonal nor product perishable, has inherent advantages over most other land uses. When timber demand is low, as it is right now, the forest owner can delay harvesting and wait until the market improves.
The forest mensuration equation allows the grower to play the long game, where sustainable forest management is practised. For example, a 25 to 30-year-old yield class (YC), 24 (average m3/ha/annum) Sitka spruce crop will have added peak volume of 35m3/ha by this time next year, or €1,400/ha to its value.
While final harvest can be delayed by a number of years depending on windthrow vulnerability, the thinning window is narrower
For those forest owners with younger crops approaching first thinning, the increase in yield, while not as impressive, is still considerable. A 15-year-old YC24 Sitka spruce crop should have a standing volume of approximately 140m3/ha, which will increase to 166m3/ha by the end of next year’s growing season. Thinning yield should increase from 45m3/ha to 54m3, depending on the thinning system. While final harvest can be delayed by a number of years depending on windthrow vulnerability, the thinning window is narrower.
The volume increases in broadleaved forests are more modest. A 30-year-old YC6 oak or beech crop should have a standing volume of 155m3/ha, which will increase to 165m3 next year. But owners walking through their oak or beech woods will have the added pleasure of watching their trees coming into leaf, à la Larkin.
Up to late last week, most companies in the forestry chain were still at work, while observing government COVID-19 guidelines
However, the performance of the forestry sector extends beyond the forest. There are a number of links in the forest industry chain that determine the overall performance of the sector and most of these do not have the luxury of delays in planting and harvesting, especially nurseries, foresters and forestry companies, contractors, timber processors and wood energy outlets.
Up to late last week, most companies in the forestry chain were still at work, while observing government COVID-19 guidelines, but production is well down. Nurseries are still delivering plants to planting sites at a reduced rate compared with previous years. Most sawmills, while working, are on short time or have reduced output to single shifts. Production timber for construction and fencing is almost at a standstill, while the pallet market is still strong.
However, all are running out of time, which is why Forest Industries Ireland (FII) sought emergency measures relating to COVID-19 on the new licensing process and operation of the Forestry Appeals Committee.
“These have combined to bring the industry to a crisis situation,” said Mark McAuley, director of FII, the forestry group in Ibec.
The FAC is not able to cope with the volume of appeals that are being lodged
In a letter to Minister Creed on behalf of the forestry and forest products sector, he identified the unrestricted right to appeal Forest Service licence approvals as a major barrier to planting, harvesting and roading. “Unrestricted access to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) has proven to be a disaster for the industry,” he maintained.
“The FAC is not able to cope with the volume of appeals that are being lodged and currently has a backlog of over 300 projects that have been appealed, but not yet processed.
“As the rate of appeals processing is currently circa 18 per month, it will take nearly 18 months to clear the backlog.”
He said that the Department’s licensing process itself is far too slow and cumbersome. “A backlog of at least 1,500 files has built up in the Department and we see no possibility of this being resolved unless there is a major revision of the current approach.”
The Department continues to insist on pursuing its current course, even though it is failing to generate the flow of licences that the industry requires
McAuley maintains that continuity of work is vital for the sector, as thousands of jobs are at stake and the shortfall in licences is central to the crisis.
“Unfortunately, the Department continues to insist on pursuing its current course, even though it is failing to generate the flow of licences that the industry requires.”
He has called on the Department to “have an immediate moratorium on appeals to the FAC and create a small Department-Industry taskforce to take a fresh look at the whole process”.
Department issues fire warning
The Department has reminded the public of the continued risk of wildfires despite the uncertain weather in the coming weeks. “Arising from current conditions associated with Atlantic high-pressure systems, a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist,” a Department spokesperson said.
Ireland’s forests are particularly vulnerable at this time of the year. Although large-scale forest fires are avoided in Ireland, almost 2,000ha of forests were burned in 2017. The spokesperson asked the public and farmers to be prepared, be vigilant and stamp out forest fires.
“Based on recent fire incidents, most fire risks appear to be associated with illegal burning of upland vegetation, particularly in areas where active turf cutting is taking place,” he said. “Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites are reminded of the requirement to remain within 2km of their homes and to adhere to regulations introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19. Vehicles should not be parked at site entrances or impede emergency service access to forest roads.”
He reminded farmers and other landowners that “it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1 March and 31 August in any
The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said...
Last year is dead they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.
– from The Trees by Philip Larkin.
The first and last two lines of Larkin’s poem, are particularly relevant in these uncertain times. Larkin’s answer to the question: “Is it that they are born again / and we grow old?” is apposite. “No, they die too,” he replies. “Their yearly trick of looking new / Is written down in rings of grain.”
Forest owners who walk their forests at present, do so safe in the knowledge that the trees are performing “their yearly trick” of renewal and regrowth, which will continue long after COVID-19 has abated. So, if the virus interrupts the harvest this year, nothing is lost, as the trees will continue to grow and increase yield for future, albeit delayed, harvests.
Forest owners enjoy this benefit, as do some sections of farming and fishing, which can also survive right now by leaving cattle in the field and fish in the sea, as pointed out in a recent Irish Farmers Journal editorial. All this presupposes that farmers, fishermen and forest owners have the resources to compensate for the short-term cashflow shortfall that arises when harvesting is postponed.
The forest mensuration equation allows the grower to play the long game, where sustainable forest management is practised
In this regard, forestry, which is neither seasonal nor product perishable, has inherent advantages over most other land uses. When timber demand is low, as it is right now, the forest owner can delay harvesting and wait until the market improves.
The forest mensuration equation allows the grower to play the long game, where sustainable forest management is practised. For example, a 25 to 30-year-old yield class (YC), 24 (average m3/ha/annum) Sitka spruce crop will have added peak volume of 35m3/ha by this time next year, or €1,400/ha to its value.
While final harvest can be delayed by a number of years depending on windthrow vulnerability, the thinning window is narrower
For those forest owners with younger crops approaching first thinning, the increase in yield, while not as impressive, is still considerable. A 15-year-old YC24 Sitka spruce crop should have a standing volume of approximately 140m3/ha, which will increase to 166m3/ha by the end of next year’s growing season. Thinning yield should increase from 45m3/ha to 54m3, depending on the thinning system. While final harvest can be delayed by a number of years depending on windthrow vulnerability, the thinning window is narrower.
The volume increases in broadleaved forests are more modest. A 30-year-old YC6 oak or beech crop should have a standing volume of 155m3/ha, which will increase to 165m3 next year. But owners walking through their oak or beech woods will have the added pleasure of watching their trees coming into leaf, à la Larkin.
Up to late last week, most companies in the forestry chain were still at work, while observing government COVID-19 guidelines
However, the performance of the forestry sector extends beyond the forest. There are a number of links in the forest industry chain that determine the overall performance of the sector and most of these do not have the luxury of delays in planting and harvesting, especially nurseries, foresters and forestry companies, contractors, timber processors and wood energy outlets.
Up to late last week, most companies in the forestry chain were still at work, while observing government COVID-19 guidelines, but production is well down. Nurseries are still delivering plants to planting sites at a reduced rate compared with previous years. Most sawmills, while working, are on short time or have reduced output to single shifts. Production timber for construction and fencing is almost at a standstill, while the pallet market is still strong.
However, all are running out of time, which is why Forest Industries Ireland (FII) sought emergency measures relating to COVID-19 on the new licensing process and operation of the Forestry Appeals Committee.
“These have combined to bring the industry to a crisis situation,” said Mark McAuley, director of FII, the forestry group in Ibec.
The FAC is not able to cope with the volume of appeals that are being lodged
In a letter to Minister Creed on behalf of the forestry and forest products sector, he identified the unrestricted right to appeal Forest Service licence approvals as a major barrier to planting, harvesting and roading. “Unrestricted access to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) has proven to be a disaster for the industry,” he maintained.
“The FAC is not able to cope with the volume of appeals that are being lodged and currently has a backlog of over 300 projects that have been appealed, but not yet processed.
“As the rate of appeals processing is currently circa 18 per month, it will take nearly 18 months to clear the backlog.”
He said that the Department’s licensing process itself is far too slow and cumbersome. “A backlog of at least 1,500 files has built up in the Department and we see no possibility of this being resolved unless there is a major revision of the current approach.”
The Department continues to insist on pursuing its current course, even though it is failing to generate the flow of licences that the industry requires
McAuley maintains that continuity of work is vital for the sector, as thousands of jobs are at stake and the shortfall in licences is central to the crisis.
“Unfortunately, the Department continues to insist on pursuing its current course, even though it is failing to generate the flow of licences that the industry requires.”
He has called on the Department to “have an immediate moratorium on appeals to the FAC and create a small Department-Industry taskforce to take a fresh look at the whole process”.
Department issues fire warning
The Department has reminded the public of the continued risk of wildfires despite the uncertain weather in the coming weeks. “Arising from current conditions associated with Atlantic high-pressure systems, a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist,” a Department spokesperson said.
Ireland’s forests are particularly vulnerable at this time of the year. Although large-scale forest fires are avoided in Ireland, almost 2,000ha of forests were burned in 2017. The spokesperson asked the public and farmers to be prepared, be vigilant and stamp out forest fires.
“Based on recent fire incidents, most fire risks appear to be associated with illegal burning of upland vegetation, particularly in areas where active turf cutting is taking place,” he said. “Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites are reminded of the requirement to remain within 2km of their homes and to adhere to regulations introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19. Vehicles should not be parked at site entrances or impede emergency service access to forest roads.”
He reminded farmers and other landowners that “it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1 March and 31 August in any
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