Less than 60% of the area approved for planting forestry was actually planted last year, figures from the Department of Agriculture show. The Department received applications to plant 8,612ha, of which 7,005ha was approved to be planted. Just 57% of this figure (4,036ha) was actually planted.

Applications

In 2018, the area applied for to plant forestry was down by 2,871ha on 2017. This year, applications have been received by the Department to plant 2,234ha of forestry. Since August of 2018, afforestation licences have been issued with an expiry date. Anyone applying to plant forestry under the licence now has three years from the start date of the licence to plant the area with trees.

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