The Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) has raised concerns as last week marked the lowest weekly total of forestry licences issued in 2025.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued a total of 26 licences, seven relating to afforestation, nine road licences and 10 for felling.

A total of 571ha of forestry has been planted so far this year, which marks a significant increase from 273ha planted in the first full three months of 2024 and 195ha in 2023.

The figures from DAFM for afforestation planted in 2025 reflect afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only under the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS).

The department has issued a total of 111 afforestation licences in 2025 relating to 805ha of planted forestry, with 85 valid applications received.

However, the afforestation target under Ireland’s Forest Strategy 2023-2030 is 8,000ha annually.

SEEFA stated that the "ongoing pattern of underperformance" is "widening the gap" between Ireland's current forestry coverage and the annual target of 8,000ha.

"Only 26 forestry licenses were issued last week, marking the lowest weekly total in 2025 and equalling some of the poorest weeks of 2023," SEEFA stated.

"Combined with recent storm damage, continued licensing failures will ensure that our forestry efforts are all in vain, and the Irish forestry estate will crumble, with planting resulting in a net negative. This must be fixed now," the association added.

A total of 173 applications for felling licence applications have been submitted to DAFM by Coillte, and 203 private felling licences have been sought.

Three licences were issued for forestry thinning last week, relating to 20ha, and seven licences have been issued for clear fell forestry, relating to 93ha.