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Following discussions with groups in Leitrim affected by afforestation, Midlands North West MEP Marian Harkin has said that an immediate response is needed to the current Government policy on forestry.
The affected groups contend that the current policy, encourages pension funds, corporations and large farmers from outside of Co. Leitrim to purchase land for afforestation.
Such investment was designed to provide either carbon credits, to offset future charges that could arise from intensive farming or to avail of substantial grant aid and tax free returns on investment in forestry, she said.
“This is a serious issue currently for farmers in Co. Leitrim, and their communities who, under present Government policies, cannot compete for the land needed to ensure their future viability in farming and vital to the retention, and necessary increase, of population to ensure local community viability.
“When land was planted under current regulations, it really meant that it can never again be brought back to support food production and it also meant cutting off and displacing families and communities.”
It is very clear from planning policy on afforestation that it was much easier to plant trees than build a home.
“There is another important issue around the non-use of the Environmental Impact Assessment directive as the cumulative effects of forestry are not adequately taken into consideration and I will be raising this issue with the European Commission,” Harkin said.
Replacing farming with tree production
Co. Leitrim had, over the decades, being faced with a consistent attempt to replace farming with tree production and to do so without concern for the communities affected, she said.
“The prospect that Ireland faces substantial EU fines for failure to meet emissions targets has further encouraged policies which incentivise blanket forestry with little diversity of species.”
She maintained that grants and tax breaks effectively meant that farmers wishing to achieve future viability could not compete for land in the areas concerned.
Official statistics indicated that Leitrim had the second highest acreage of forestry at 16.7%, just behind Wicklow at 17.7%, according to the Midlands North West MEP.
“These figures are out of date and evidence on the ground from speaking to people in Leitrim strongly suggest that this figure of 16.7% has significantly increased.
What about the ‘polluter pays’ principle where CO2 emissions are concerned – Leitrim shoulders far more than its fair share and this must be tackled immediately, she insisted.
For example, the situation where the amount of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere from all the cars and homes in Dublin with less than 6% in Dublin under afforestation needed to be examined, she suggested.
Assist farmers
She urged all concerned with the issue of excessive afforestation in Co. Leitrim to come together to see what structure could be established to assist farmers to acquire land offered for sale, especially land adjoining theirs which would help to make a holding capable of sustaining a family farm into the future.
“As an immediate step I would urge all interested to attend the meeting being organised by the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) for Carrick on Shannon on Friday, 19 January which will deal with this contentious issue which has huge implications for the future sustainability of communities in Co. Leitrim.”
Also weighing in on the afforestation debate was MEP for and first Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness.
She said that national forestry targets, while important in terms of meeting our climate action targets, must take account of community and local concerns.
Speaking following a meeting with representatives of the INHFA last week, the MEP said that our targets to increase the area under trees from 11% to 18% risks not being achieved, unless we tackle perceptions among farmers about forestry and reassure certain regions that there is no national strategy to cover their territory with trees to the exclusion of people.
Trees are a farming enterprise, not an anti-farming activity, with environmental and sustainability benefits for the community, but community concerns need to be heard.
She said five counties – Leitrim, Cavan, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo – have seen a significant increase in planting, accounting for one third of the afforestation Programme in 2016.
Over 30% of planting is being undertaken by investors, with no links to local communities, she said.
“Gerry Loftus, chairman of the INHFA forestry committee expressed concern about the proliferation of plantations, without due regard to concerns of neighbouring farmers and other householders.
“Tax and other incentives are encouraging investors to look to forestry as a long-term investment. This is a cause of concern and in Leitrim, it is adding to a negative perception of forestry.
“Competition for land between local farmers who wish to expand their holdings and investors who want to plant the land is leading to resentment – with forestry investors able to outbid farmers for land.”
Planning process
She said there is also an issue about what is perceived to be a lax planning process for plantations.
“Home owners express concern about being surrounded by trees – impeding their view and negatively impacting their way of life.
“In overall terms Ireland has the lowest forestry cover in the EU, with about 10% of our lands – some 750,000 hectares under trees.
“And we have a competitive advantage in growing timber, with growth rates of certain tree species more than double those achievable in other European countries.”
She said the total value of Irish industry to the economy is €2.3 billion, supporting almost 12,000 jobs primarily in rural areas.
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