'Needs of owners' will be central to new forest windblow taskforce
The "needs of forest owners" will play a central role in the work of a new forest windblow taskforce that has been set up by ministers at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae today (Wednesday, January 29) said that they had invited "key stakeholders" to join DAFM officials on the taskforce to ensure that storm-damaged forests are "managed safely and appropriately".
No details of who these key stakeholders may be were released by the ministers.
However DAFM outlined that the taskforce "will comprise stakeholders representing forest owners, forestry companies, Teagasc and Coillte".
Minister Heydon acknowledged that this "is a difficult time for forest owners" following Storm Darragh and Storm Éowyn.
He said that the ESB had "done tremendous work over the last few days" and also highlighted that the semi-state forestry company, Coillte, had "provided staff and equipment to help in their efforts to restore power and assist Local Authorities in the road clearance operations".
"In relation to trees falling on ESB lines, my department officials will be engaging directly with the ESB shortly to discuss the issues around forests in the vicinity of ESB lines," Minister Heydon added.
According to DAFM the taskforce "will inform the department’s and the wider sector’s response" to recent storms and will also focus on dealing safely with the large areas of forest that have been blown down.
"This will include a plan around the prioritisation of felling licences in respect of storm damage, and an examination of any issues that arise in relation to the harvesting, haulage and sawmilling of the blown trees," it added.
Meanwhile Minister Healy-Rae has stressed that it is important to get an "assessment of the damage nationally".
"I understand that Coillte and my department have already begun the task of assessing this damage using satellite imagery, which will provide information nationally and at forest level.
"I am aware that guidance has issued to forest owners through my department and Teagasc, with the emphasis at this early stage on safety, the importance of not rushing in, and of getting advice," he added.
