A Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine spokesperson has responded to the Irish Farmers Journal report (2 September) on the risk of introducing the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle Ips typographus – or Ips – through log imports from Germany. “The Department would remind any prospective importer to engage fully with the Department for guidance on import requirements and for inspection arrangements,” he said.

He clarified a number of issues, especially in relation to the removal of bark on logs imported from Germany and countries with Ips. “Debarking is not an acceptable import standard and it should not be confused with the ‘bark-free’ requirement,” he explained. “The ‘bark-free’ requirement means exactly what it states – that is the logs must be 100% free of bark.”

Despite the Department’s insistence that logs must be bark-free, the Irish Farmers Journal has learned that a closed container of imported logs was allowed deliver its load to a sawmill in Co Cork, despite the discovery of some bark by Forest Service inspectors. “The Department does not discuss details of individual cases,” the spokesperson said.

Last week, a spokesperson for a log importing company disputed the risk to Irish forests. “A total non-bark imposes no risk of bark beetle in European logs brought into Ireland,” he claimed.

“Bark beetle imposes no risk in Ireland as [it] cannot survive here due to too much moisture in Irish trees, ground and air which kills bark beetle,” he said.

The potential for the introduction of the spruce bark beetle on untreated timber is a major threat to our industry

Pat O’Sullivan, technical director, Society of Irish Foresters, said there is no evidence to support this claim.

“The drought experienced in 2018, for example, would have created an ideal environment for bark beetle damage, if it were introduced,” he said.

“The potential for the introduction of the spruce bark beetle on untreated timber is a major threat to our industry,” maintained John Kavanagh, of None so Hardy Nurseries.

Likewise, the Department believes the importation of timber with bark beetle is a serious threat to Irish forests.

“The Department regards this trade as a potential high-risk pathway for the introduction of Ips typographus and other damaging bark beetles into Ireland,” the Department spokesperson said.

“Ireland’s natural protection as an island and recognition of both its pest-free status and as a special protected zone under EU plant law has helped to ensure so far, that this beetle and many others have been kept out of the country. However, experience continues to demonstrate that bark beetles can be found even under a very small piece of bark on a log in a consignment of any size which is why we need to be vigilant.”

Log supply in Ireland is way down due to licence appeals

Currently, two sawmills are exploring the German market, while one has already imported logs, albeit on a trial basis.

“We face short-time and eventual mill closures unless we import more logs,” a sawmill spokesperson said.

“Log supply in Ireland is way down due to licence appeals, while imports from Scotland are also under pressure, so the German market is an alternative supply source. This problem can only be solved by the Department, not by the mills.”

Comment

During the ?past three years, an estimated 270m m3 of standing timber in central Europe was damaged by bark beetles, especially the destructive Ips typographus. Prolonged drought periods, storms and fires, especially in 2018, created the ideal climate for Ips infestation.

When bark beetle damage occurs, all infected crops have to be clearfelled within one year to slow down the spread of the insect and to salvage infected timber. In Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and other countries, harvesting switched from healthy to infected forests. Germany, which has a huge domestic market, has had to increase exports throughout Europe, including Ireland, as well as to China and the US.

Ips damage has been catastrophic for the foresty and forest products sector in central Europe as it would be if introduced to Ireland with our dependence on spruce.

Why risk the forest resource when there is ample wood available in our forests?

”The major host species of Ips is Norway spruce, although other spruce and pine species are known to be hosts. The 25,800ha of Norway spruce would face infestation, while nobody can say for certain if the 343,000ha of Sitka would withstand an Ips attack.

“Why risk the forest resource when there is ample wood available in our forests?” asked a forestry company spokesperson. The solution lies in making home-grown timber readily available to Irish timber processors. The recent Government announcement to align the forestry licensing and appeals system with other similar planning processes will help free up felling licences but not in the short term.

So far, there is little evidence of any meaningful dialogue between the Department and sawmills to address this issue. The Department’s unwillingness to positively address the dearth of licences has contributed to the current domestic log supply crisis. However, the sawmills must also share the blame as they have failed to provide a united view of the industry’s needs. While they are ably represented by Forest Industries Ireland, the current crisis calls for direct negotiations between the Department and members of the Irish Timber Council, the sawmills’ representative body since 1918.

During the months of July and August, the FAC heard only 24 appeals

A solution to the current crisis would be a temporary emergency change to legislation. This would allow approval for existing felling licences with appropriate assessment (AA) procedures. It would also reduce the threat to the livelihoods of forest harvesting contractor, which log importation will only exacerbate.

Another solution is to provide more resources to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC). During the months of July and August, the FAC heard only 24 appeals. During the same period, 165 appeals were lodged.

The FAC needs to at least treble its output, which would require further Forest Service and other specialist staff to hear appeals, instead of being deployed at ports around the country inspecting containers of imported logs. Otherwise, the Department and sawmills are embarked on a course of action that is both reckless and morally reprehensible.