SEEFA hoping for 'sustained momentum' on forestry with new govt
The Social, Economic and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) said it hopes to see "sustained momentum" on forestry under the new government.
As part of the programme for government, there is a commitment to "continue to support the forestry sector and provide attractive financial incentives to farmers to plant".
The new government pledged to ensure the €1.3 billion Forestry Programme delivers "a licensing system that is effective".
The document states that the government will "work with all stakeholders to remove any barriers to plant and fell trees within the current Forestry Programme".
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 12 afforestation licences in the week up to Friday (January 17).
The latest forestry data, published by the department, 9 valid afforestation applications have been received to date this year, with 31 licences issued for 239ha.
The figures show that 51ha has been planted this year. The department noted that figures for afforestation planted in 2025 reflect afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS).
43 licences have been issued for private felling, while 4 licences have been granted for Coillte felling, covering a total of 610ha.
The department has issued 16 licences for forestry roads this year for a total of 6km.
The figures show that 19 licences have been issued this year under the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme for 68ha.
There has been 8 licences approved by DAFM up to January 17 this year under the Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS) relating to 46ha.
Under the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS) there has been 5 licences issued (6ha), one licence has been granted for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (DTS) for 8ha.
There has yet to a licence issued in 2025 for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme.
Commenting on the latest data, SEEFA said "after last week’s promising start, afforestation licenses have dropped from 18 to 12, covering only 85ha, against the annual target of 8,000ha".
"While road licenses improved from zero last week to a much more respectable 16, private felling saw a small dip.
"This kind of week-to-week inconsistency was a major contributor to last year’s shortfall, and it underscores the urgent need for more stable, predictable progress.
"We hope to see sustained momentum once the new government begins and look forward to working with the new minister to make it easier for landowners to participate in forestry, speed up licensing, and take advantage of demand," SEEFA added.
