Farmers do not see forestry "as a safe investment for our land", a farm organisation has said.

According to Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) forestry chair Padraig Stapleton, "when policy is right, farmers will plant".

This comes as the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has said today that urgent action and strengthened policy levers are required to incentivise increased tree planting, to ensure Ireland’s forestry sector does not become a source of greenhouse gas emissions.  

The council has published its Annual Review of the Agriculture and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector.

It said that the current afforestation policy is inadequate to meet our future needs as tree planting rates remain well below the target of 8,000ha per year. 

IFA forestry chair Padraig Stapleton told Agriland that features of the current Forestry Programme are among the "biggest barriers" to farmers planting.

There is a mid-term review of the 2023-2027 programme this year.

The IFA is seeking new measures to reverse the decline in afforestation, to de-risk the investment, and also restoring farmer confidence in the sector.

Stapleton said that farmers can only get into forestry if it is "financially sustainable".

Stapleton has called this year for the government to partly fund a national insurance policy for private forest owners.

Ash dieback was a "major test of forestry in Ireland" and it showed "how lacking forestry it was as regards a safeguard", he said.

"Farmers can clearly see if you get into forestry and something goes wrong, you're on your own," Stapleton said.

Some of the other issues for farmers Stapleton highlighted include the set-back distance from water when planting, and land ineligible for the Native Tree Area Scheme.

"When that scheme was announced first we were very enthusiastic about it," the IFA forestry chair said.

"I remember being at meetings and farmers expressed the view that they would love to see a hectare of native trees on every farm."

Stapleton said he commends Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae, who has responsibility for forestry, for his performance particularly on handling windblow.

The Forest Windblow Taskforce was set up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine earlier this year in the wake of Storm Éowyn, which caused substantial damage to thousands of hectares of forestry.

The taskforce comprises stakeholders representing forest owners, forestry companies, Teagasc, and Coillte.

"I have no doubt that the minister is determined to have a forestry programme that is farmer-focused," Stapleton said.

"I have sat down with him and talked to him about the vision we see for forestry."

Stapleton said he is "optimistic" that a "satisfactory forestry policy and programmes" can be established going forward.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food will meet with Minister Healy-Rae for a discussion on forestry this afternoon.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Oireachtas committee chair, TD Aindrias Moynihan, said that ash dieback “continues to be a significant threat to Ireland’s ash tree population, causing widespread damage and economic loss”.

“Ash trees are an integral part of Ireland’s landscape and ecosystem, providing habitats for numerous wildlife species and supporting the country’s rich cultural heritage – most notably in Ireland’s traditional craft of making hurleys,” deputy Moyihan said.

The committee will also examine other issues impacting the forestry sector such as planting rates, planning applications, and threat and mitigation of invasive species.