Forestry Council Report November 2024

Market Review 

• The Forestry Weekly Dashboard showed that as of the end of October 2024, 1,357 hectares of new forest have been planted and 59 km of forest roads constructed. Afforestation licences issued to establish 4,988 hectares under the Afforestation scheme and 365 under the Native Tree Area scheme. 50 private felling licences issued compared with 78 Coillte felling licences.

Figure 1. Forest Licensing Dashboard (Week 43 October 2024)

Activity since last National Council

• The termination of the export of conifer logs from the Pest Free Area of Scotland into Ireland on a precautionary basis, following the finding of larch bark beetles at a port in Cork.  The Department found three Ips cembrae beetles (commonly known as the large larch bark beetle) in one of its pheromone traps in Passage West Port in Cork.  Following confirmed findings by the Irish Forestry Inspectors, Scottish authorities have ceased all exports of logs with immediate effect until a full investigation takes place. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Forest Health Stakeholder Engagement Group met on the same week where stakeholders were informed by the Department of the finding of three Ips cembrae beetles in Passage West Port. Stakeholders will continue to be kept informed of all relevant developments as promised by the department. The Department continue to survey extensively throughout the country for all Protected Zone species and to date has no findings of any Protected Zone bark beetles. The Department have stated they will continue to work with its counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland in connection with this investigation, and will assess any possible future actions and keep the industry informed of developments. 
• Budget 2025 allocated €91M to the forestry sector comparing to Budget 2024 allocation of €110M. That’s a 17% reduction in funding allocated to the forestry sector for Budget 2025 from the year previous.  

• IFA General Election Submission for Farm Forestry prioritised:
• Forestry & Capital Acquisition Tax (CAT)/Stamp Duty Relief. Land with forestry is currently defined as being agricultural for CAT Agricultural Relief, providing those trees are being grown on over 75% of the land; if they cover a smaller amount of the land, the Relief cannot be applied unless the land is split into separate folios of forestry and agriculture.
• However, with Stamp Duty, land with woodlands growing on a commercial basis does not qualify for reliefs and is subject to the 7.5% rate. Currently the differing definitions cause unnecessary complications and complexities and act as a barrier to farmers investing in forestry. To overcome this barrier IFA proposes:
• If any percentage of the farm is dedicated to forestry, it should be defined as agricultural land and the CAT AgricFFSultural Relief applied to the whole farm.
• Where a non-farmer buys forestry, the normal commercial rate of stamp duty should apply to the full value of land and timber. This is required to ensure forestry remains primarily in the hands of genuine farmers.
• The reintroduction of a farmer premium differential in the new programme has done little to restore confidence or revive farmers interest in planting, as the substantive farmers concerns with regards to excessive regulatory burden that is reducing the viability of forestry on farms. The reality is that many farmers no longer view forestry as a safe investment, the risks associated with committing their land in perpetuity have become too great. 
• New measures are needed to reverse the decline in afforestation, to de-risk the investment and restore confidence, while ensuring a balanced regional spread of forestry is achieved. IFA proposes: 
• The Payment Ecosystem Service (PES) payment under the new programme requires farmers to further erode productive area to qualify for the payment. This is unacceptable and needs to be amended. Farmers should be paid to manage the land they are required to provide as areas biodiversity enhancement, broadleaves and environmental requirements. They should not be required further erode productive area to qualify for a payment. The PES rate should reflect the income foregone from timber production and must be extended beyond the 7 years payment. 
• The introduction of a Harvesting Plan Grant to assist forest owners with the increased costs and requirements associated with applying for a felling licence.
• The new Ash Dieback Reconstitution Scheme is a significant improvement on previous iterations of the scheme however further improvements are required. This includes flexibility in the payable clearance grant rate for older and more difficult sites, as recommended in the Independent Review of Ash Dieback Response, and a review of the Climate Action Performance Payment (CAPP) for farmers with older and larger ash woodlands.
• The introduction of a Roadside Ash Tree Removal Grant to support farmers to remove diseases roadside ash trees safely is urgently required. The grant should be administered by the Local Authorities, who would be responsible for coordinating the safe removal of the trees by providing grants to support farmers to hire relevant professionals to safely fell these trees. 
• The allocation of funding to establish a Forestry Development Agency to drive the industry, such as exists in other natural resource sectors. It would be charged with optimising the performance of the Irish forest industry by providing technical expertise, business support, funding, training and promoting responsible environmental practice. The establishment of this Agency is critical to achieving the afforestation targets. 

• IFA Farm Forestry submitted to The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine after the launch of an open call for proposals for Forestry Skills Training. 
• IFA Farm Forestry proposed that the certification process to be included as part of the Forestry Legislation module.
• IFA Farm Forestry proposed broadleaves shaping and pruning to be delivered as part of the Forest Operator skills module. There is a focus now more than ever on broadleaves therefore shaping and pruning them will add value to them making broadleaves more viable for the forester. 
• IFA Farm Forestry proposed chainsaw training to be covered under two modules – Forest operator skills and Health and Safety. 
• IFA Farm Forestry proposed that these modules are made available as part of the level 5 Green Certification course.

• The CSO Forest Wood Removals 2023 report indicates that farmers accounted for less than 50% of the total roundwood removals in 2023. The CSO Forest Wood Removals 2023 report shows that the total value of roundwood removals was €214 million in 2023, a 16% decrease from €253 million in 2022 and a 6% decrease from €227 million in 2021. Roundwood removals increased by 1.5% from 4.19 million cubic metres in 2022 to 4.25 million cubic metres in 2023 and decreased by 2% from 4.33 million cubic metres in 2021.
• Coniferous roundwood accounted for over 99% of removals in 2023. Large sawlog accounted for the highest proportion of roundwood removals volume at 38% in 2023, followed by pulpwood at 27% and small sawlog at 25%.

• Deere Management Strategy Group Report update suggests that the appointment of a program manager to set up deer management units with Local co-ordinators should be rewarded in November. The programme manager in conjunction with the Deere Management Strategy Group will develop an implementation plan by late December 2014. 

• IFA attended the Department Agriculture, Food and Marine Plant Health Stakeholders Engagement Group on the 27th August. 
• IFA attended the Department Agriculture, Food and Marine online webinar on the Implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation EU 2003/1115 on the 27th August.
• IFA Farm Forestry committee meeting was held on the 5^th September. Declan McEvoy Tax specialist in attendance. 
• IFA attended the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan 2004-2008 on the 10th September. 
• IFA met Paul Savage and Barry Delaney DAFM on the 13th September.
• IFA met with The Irish Farmers Journal and the GAA to discuss the salvaging of Ash hurley 23^rd September. 
• IFA Farm Forestry attended the National Ploughing Championships on the 17^th to the 19^th September. 
• IFA attended FSCC meeting on the 24^th September. 
• IFA met with Minister Pippa Hackett on the 25th September. 
• IFA attended COPA working party meeting on forestry- forestry house on the 26th September.
• IFA attended COPA meeting to discuss Multifunctional forests and their role in supporting EU strategic objectives on the 26th September.
• IFA met with Jackie Cahill TD discussing Roadside Ash Dieback Trees on the 30th September.
• IFA attended Woodlands of Ireland project conference 2^nd October. 
• IFA Farm Forestry online committee meeting held on the 9^th October. 
• IFA attended the Department Agriculture, Food and Marine online update on the EUDR 2003/1115 10^th October.
• IFA met with Coillte on the 16^th October. 
• IFA has been invited to meet with the Irish Forestry Owners. Date not finalised. 
• IFA has been invited to meet with inland fisheries. Date not finalised. 
• IFA will lobby on the Local and European forestry proposals outlined in the IFA Election Manifesto.

Any EU/COPA developments

• IFA attended COPA working party meeting on forestry- forestry house on the 26th September.
• IFA attended COPA meeting to discuss Multifunctional forests and their role in supporting EU strategic objectives on the 26th September.

Upcoming issues

• IFA Farm Forestry to attend the FITG meeting on the 6^th November.
• Clare IFA Farm Forestry meeting 7^th November.
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend the Irish Agroforestry Forum on the 8^th November.
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend COPA working party meeting on Plant Health on the 8^th November. 
• IFA Farm Forestry online committee meeting 11^th November.
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend the Department Agriculture, Food and Marine Plant Health Stakeholders Engagement Group on the 12^th November.
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend Islandeady branch AGM on the 15^th November.
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend Limerick Tipperary Forestry Group meeting on the 16^th November. 
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend the Department Agriculture, Food and Marine EU Deforestation Regulation EU 2003/1115 meeting on the 25^th November. 
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend the Joint preparatory meeting for the EU Stakeholders Platform on Forest and Forestry online meeting on the 25^th November.
• IFA Farm Forestry to attend the Commission Expert Group on Forest and Forestry Stakeholder Platform online meeting on the 29^th November. 
• IFA Farm Forestry committee meeting on the 11^th December.
• IFA will lobby on the Local and European forestry proposals outlined in the IFA Election Manifesto.