The replanting obligation is an issue that continues to surface in Irish forestry, as it is perceived as an obstacle to afforestation.

Enshrined in the 2014 Forestry Act, the replanting obligation legally requires the forest owner to reforest land after a crop has been clear-felled.

It also applies to forests and woodlands that have been destroyed due to disease, fire, wind-blow or other causes.

Those who favour the retention of the replanting requirement maintain that it is a fundamental aspect of sustainable forest management which is important in Ireland considering our low forest cover.

They claim the requirement avoids the possibility of deforestation and protects the State investment in afforestation and forestry supports – €3bn since the mid 1980s – which could be jeopardised by its removal along with other benefits such as future carbon accounting and long-term timber supply.

Those who favour the removal of the replanting obligation maintain that the private sector has more than matched the State in establishing close to 300,000ha of forests since the mid 1980s.

Organisations such as the IFA and the Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) maintain that this demonstrates a serious commitment by private forest owners – mainly farmers – which continues long after the State’s involvement has ceased.

They also argue that the removal of the replanting obligation would not lead to deforestation as it is perceived as a psychological barrier mainly by farmers who have a tradition of flexibility in land use.

In any case, converting forest land to agriculture of other uses is costly, but Daragh Little, Veon Ltd maintains that the requirement to replant “is hampering afforestation, and many farmers will not plant on land if they know it must stay as forestry”.

Vincent Nally, IFA farm forestry committee chair, agrees that the replanting obligation is a major barrier in achieving a viable afforestation programme and its removal would have a positive effect on levels of new planting.

Now for the first time, the replanting obligation has been identified in two COFORD, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) reports as an obstacle to afforestation.

The “Report on Policy Implementation with Recommendations”, recommends “ a more flexible approach to the removal of areas from forestry to other land use types” while the “Forest Land Availability Implementation Group Report” maintains that “the requirement to replant has been identified in multiple surveys and studies as a barrier to afforestation”.

Chaired by Nuala Ní Fhlatharta, head of the Forestry Development Department at Teagasc, this report stops short of removing the replanting obligation, but recommends:

The introduction of financial support for reforestation to apply to land replanted following a clearfell where additional measures are taken, over and above the replanting obligation, to enhance the environmental and other values of the succeeding forest.

Regarding the risk of deforestation should the replanting obligation be relaxed, the report suggests that “a ratio of deforestation to afforestation could be allowed based on area and/or location”.

While both reports concede that the replanting obligation is unlikely to be removed, they have opened the conversation on an issue that is likely to recur, especially against the background of an underperforming afforestation programme.

Minister stresses sustainable forest management

Minister of State, Andrew Doyle stressed the need for sustainable forest management when launching the 2019 Forestry and Timber Yearbook recently.

“Sustainably managed forests not only remove and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but also store carbon in the trees and in the timber products they produce,” he said.

The yearbook, published by the Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) places strong emphasis on forestry and climate change. “In 2016 over 3.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were sequestered by Irish forests and an additional 800,000t of carbon dioxide were stored in harvest wood products,” said Minister Doyle.

Commissioner Phil Hogan continued this theme in the yearbook: “Forestry is a central sector for a number of key EU priorities in the coming years, including the development of the bioeconomy and the circular economy.”

Yearbooks can be ordered online (www.forestryyearbook.ie) or by email (info@itga.ie).

Think new forests, think business opportunities

Ibec launched Forests Industries Ireland (FII) on Tuesday “to place timber and forestry at the heart of Ireland’s rural economy”.

FII, whose mission is “Think forests, think business” is a new organisation that brings together companies from across the forestry and timber supply chain.

“These include forest owners, forestry companies, nurseries, timber processors, wood product manufacturers, and renewable energy producers,” said Brian Murphy, chair of FII and CEO of Balcas, the Enniskillen based sawmill and wood energy producer.

“FII is placing timber and forestry at the heart of Ireland’s rural economy,” he said during the FII launch. “The industry is enjoying a period of major capital investment, market buoyancy and substantial growth in wood supply and these three elements will underpin growth for the industry that will see it double in size in the next two decades.”

Formerly known as the Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association, FII reflects the increased production of timber from Irish forests .

“The supply of wood from Irish forests will double by 2035 and this rapid growth in supply pays testament to years of investment in afforestation and the drive towards increasing Ireland’s forest cover,” said Mark McAuley, director FII.

“This positive supply situation will not only drive a large and sustained growth in timber processing and valuable Irish exports, it will also pay dividends as Ireland strives to meet its climate change commitments.”

Further information at www.forestindustries.ie.