There has been a major increase in planting native species since the turn of this century. In 2000, only 13% of all planting comprised broadleaves – mostly native – but this increased threefold within nine years.

During the four years from 2008 to 2011, broadleaved planting reached an average 37% of all planting. It has dropped back since, falling to 30% in 2012 and 24% in 2013. Only 1,492ha of broadleaves were planted in 2013, compared with 3,149ha in 2010.

The drop in planting has been dramatic in some counties. For example, less than 10ha of broadleaves were planted in Donegal in 2013, compared with 53ha in 2000 and during the same period, planting in Offaly dropped from 186ha to 32ha.

There is little doubt that taking ash off the list of approved species has been a contributing factor in counties such as Tipperary, where 175ha were planted in 2009 compared with 78ha in 2013.

So why are private growers – mainly farmers – moving away from broadleaves? There is little doubt that economic returns are tilting the species mix towards higher-yielding non-native conifers.

At producer group meetings and field days, plantation owners are comparing the performance of their crops in monetary terms. Many are discovering that neighbours who planted Sitka spruce are receiving a return on investment as early as year 14, while those who planted oak will wait a further 20 years before they receive a reasonable income.

But finance isn’t the only reason. The removal of ash as an approved species for grant aid since the outbreak of Chalara fraxinea is a major reason and has contributed to the reduction in planting of broadleaves, especially in counties where ash was the broadleaved species of choice. Ash is a species capable of providing an early return on investment, especially when compared with oak. It is likely that farmers who would opt for ash are now turning their attention to conifers.

So what does the future hold for native species? It is likely that farmers will continue to plant native species as part of an overall species mix. In some sensitive sites where coniferous afforestation is unlikely to be approved, there may be opportunities to plant broadleaves under the Native Woodland Scheme (NWS). This may encourage some farmers to utilise this non-productive agricultural land.

The reduction of the premium period from 20 to 15 years will concentrate the minds of many potential plantation owners, while coniferous plantation owners can bridge the gap between the end of premium payments and revenue generation from log sales, a luxury that does not apply when growing broadleaves. This is a major impediment to planting low-yielding native broadleaves.

However, broadleaves are being planted in numbers which would not have been envisaged two decades ago. The planting target for broadleaves, which in 1996 was set at 20% of total planting in Ireland, has been surpassed. Even during the last decade, 32% of all planting comprised broadleaves, almost all native, so Ireland has been doing well.

The Forest Service and Woodlands of Ireland acknowledge the recent decrease in broadleaved planting and see the need to keep landowners, foresters and other relevant stakeholders well informed about planting native species.

They are organising a series of courses to show that the NWS is still open for business. These courses will concentrate on the following two elements of the scheme:

Native woodland conservation

This relates to the restoration of existing woodlands, some of which may be classed as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or National Heritage Areas (NHAs). Scrubland with native trees or shrubs also qualifies. The scheme is flexible and can be applied to the restoration of native woodlands where exotics have been planted in the past as well as retrofitting of native woodlands along important watercourses.

Native woodland establishment

This is relevant to landowners who wish to plant native species in a range of sensitive site types that might be precluded from coniferous afforestation, in particular freshwater pearl mussel catchment areas, NATURA sites and acid sensitive areas.

The course includes indoor and outdoor sessions covering native woodland ecology and management, and NWS procedures and standards.

So who should attend? The NWS course is aimed at people actively involved in native woodland restoration or afforestation including farmers and other landowners. Foresters, ecologists, researchers and representatives from the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland, EPA, NGOs and Coillte will also benefit from the course. Those who wish to become participating foresters or ecologists under the NWS are required to complete the course.

The first two-day course in the present series takes place on 4 and 5 December 4 in the Summerhill House Hotel, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. Email woodsofireland@iol.ie for further information, including enrolment form. Places are limited to 50 per course and the fee for the two days is €100 (student rate €50). This fee is charged as a contribution towards costs, includes lunches and course handouts, and an opportunity to learn from the experts.