The Social, Economic and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) has said the recent “uptick” in afforestation licences “must now translate to more planting as soon as possible”.
Latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) show that in the four weeks of August, 70 afforestation licences were issued, followed by a total of 73 licences in September.
The afforestation licences issued in September allow for the planting of 586ha, which is the highest monthly area since September 2022, when the DAFM issued licences for afforestation on 690ha.
Figures for the week ending on Friday, September 27, 2024, show that a total of 3,690ha has been approved for planting so far this year, with 436 licences issued compared to a total of 488 valid applications received.
The total area planted so far this year now stands at 1,257ha. This compares to 1,368ha this time last year. The DAFM notes that this figure only reflects afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year-to-date.
While the number of planting licences dropped to 11 last week after a “strong performance” over the last four weeks, SEEFA said the number of felling licences issued recovered after four weeks of “consistently low figures”.
Latest forestry data show that 762 private felling licences have been issued so far this year, compared to 817 Coillte felling licences. In total, felling licences issued by the DAFM reached a peak of 71 last week.
“Whilst private felling licences still lag far behind the number issued to Coillte, this much-needed improvement is a sign of things moving in the right direction,” SEEFA said.
The private sector group said the fall in afforestation licences last week, when the issuing of felling licences picked up “raises questions about the department’s ability to provide to all forestry sectors concurrently”.