Project Woodland is another announcement that does not lead to immediate actions, ICMSA farm and rural affairs committee chair Denis Drennan has said.

ICMSA has said that if the project seriously tackled the easily identifiable obstacles to the further development of the forestry sector, it would be worthwhile and welcomed by all stakeholders.

Project Woodland will have four work streams, focusing on different areas.

The first one will concentrate on the backlog, the second on a vision for forestry, the third on devising a fit-for-purpose organisational structure and the fourth on streamlining the licensing process for the future, the Department said.

Drennan highlighted that the removal of barriers and incentivisation of farmers to consider forestry did not qualify as part of any of the project's four streams.

Work itself out

ICMSA confirmed that it would engage with Project Woodland in a positive and committed manner but warned that earlier delivery of change is going to be essential to restore confidence in the sector.

“It seems a little remiss not to look at how farmers can be incentivised to look at forestry in an even more proactive way and how we can remove barriers for farmers who want to plant their land,” Drennan said.

“If we make the administration around planting, maintenance and harvesting easier and more straightforward then our suspicion is that the present problems will work themselves out.”

The ICMSA suggested it is a matter of asking how to make forestry a more attractive commercial option for greater numbers of farmers.

ICMSA confirmed that it would engage with Project Woodland in a positive and committed manner but warned that earlier delivery of change is going to be essential to restore confidence in the sector.