Minister of State for forestry at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Pippa Hackett, has published her department’s Forest Licensing Plan for 2022.

The plan sets a target of 5,200 new licences for this year. This is a  30% increase in licences issued compared to last year

Referring to the plan, the minister emphasised the focus on increasing the numbers of planting licences issued.

"Last year there were significant increases in the numbers of felling and roads licences issued. In 2022, we are giving a much higher priority to issuing planting licences," the minister said.

"We will also significantly increase the output on schemes like the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) (RUS), Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost) and the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme," she added.  

The minister has admitted that the targets are "ambitious", but added that she feels they are achievable.

"Last year was a record year for licensing, in terms of  felling volume and forest roads, and we intend to build on that," she said.

The junior minister also pointed to the broader challenge of increasing the level of planting by farmers and landowners.

She said: “Improved licensing output has a role to play in building confidence among farmers and landowners, and in increasing demand for licences and planting rates. That is why I am attaching such importance to improving output in 2022.

"In 2021, e.g., there were 502 afforestation licences issued. Those licences would have facilitated the planting of over 4,200ha, but only 2,000ha have been planted to date," she explained.

The minister said that the conversion rate from licensing to planting, at about 64%, is low.

"This means that at present, a  disproportionate amount of processing effort both by the Department and forestry companies is wasted. We need to change that," Hackett continued.

Minister Hackett said that she is also concerned about the decline in the number of applications for planting licences in recent years.

She said that this decline should be of concern to everyone who wants to see more trees planted in Ireland. 

"In addition to the progress made already, my department has, through Project Woodland, commissioned reviews of its processes and the regulatory framework with a view to further increasing the efficiency of the licensing system," the minister said.

"But we also have to get much better at communicating the benefits of forestry to those we are trying to encourage to plant trees. On most farms, planting can comfortably co-exist with livestock enterprises and can significantly increase the net income from the holding."

The message from the minister was that farmers who plant trees on a portion of their lands, can continue to engage in their traditional farm enterprises.

“It is critically important that everyone with an interest in developing the sector works closely together to communicate these extraordinarily positive messages to farmers and landowners.

"We are at an inflection point now in terms of licensing, but if we want to succeed in increasing the level of interest in forestry among those we wish to encourage to plant, we must also work together to communicate this positive message consistently."