Press release
Minister Hackett notes progress in second interim report on Project Woodland
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister with responsibility for forestry today received the second interim report on the implementation of Project Woodland.
The report, prepared by the Project Board, confirmed that that the Department of Agriculture , Food and the Marine is proceeding with a full regulatory review of forestry licencing to be conducted by external consultants, Philip Lee. The review is expected to be submitted in February 2022.
The report also noted progress on both the proposals on pre-application discussion and the planning grant. The work on the next Vision and Strategy for Irish forestry was also reported to be making good progress with a national attitudinal survey on forestry abut to commence and the community-based outreach through National Rural Network already underway.
Commenting on the update, the Minister said:
“I am happy to see solid progress being made because it is essential, if we are to reform the design and delivery of woodland creation in Ireland, that Project Woodland succeeds. The importance of us planting more trees and forests has been brought into sharp focus this week with the ongoing of COP26 negotiations and the upcoming delivery of the Climate Action Plan. It is simply the case that woodland creation must be central to our land-based climate and biodiversity solutions.
Speaking also about the numbers of licenses which have been issued by her Department since the last interim report was issued, the Minister continued:
“I note some real progress has been made since the last interim report in July not least the significant improvement in licensing output since then. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has issued an average of 118 new licenses each week since end-August, which is very welcome. This year will see the highest ever volume of timber licensed for harvest. I am equally aware though that the progress is not equal and that an urgent uplift in afforestation licensing is needed. My Department will soon be producing its projections for licensing for the first half of 2022.
The Minister concluded that
“I want to acknowledge the efforts and contribution of all stakeholders in Project Woodland as well as that of the staff of my Department and of course the members of the Project Board. This is not easy work but we are making real progress and will continue to do so. It's important that the Interim Report formally acknowledges this as it has done and also highlights the priorities for future work. It is only through this collaborative approach from all concerned will we reform this area and make woodland creation the priority policy and driver of our future environmental and economic needs”.
Note for editors:
• Project Woodland was established to reform the regulation and vision for forestry in Ireland.
• A copy of the interim report can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/#project-woodland .
• The members of the Project Board are: Brendan Gleeson (Secretary General, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine), Jo O’Hara (Former CEO Scottish Forestry), Sarah O’Shea (CEO, SOS Sports; Honorary General Secretary, Olympic Federation Ireland), Jerry Grant (Chair, Dublin Port Company)
• The members of the Forestry Policy Group are listed below:
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) - Jenni Roche; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Bernard Hyde; Teagasc - Nuala Ni Fhlatharta; Forest Industries Ireland (FII) - Mark McAuley; FII - Brian Murphy; FII -Peter O'Brien; FII - Marina Conway; Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland - Michael Moroney; Irish Farmers Association (IFA) - Vincent Nally; Coillte - Mark Carlin; Association of Irish Forestry Consultants - Dermot Houlihan; Agricultural Consultants Association - Andy Dunne; Irish Timber Growers Association - Donal Whelan; Pro Silva - Paddy Purser; None So Hardy Nurseries-Teige Ryan; Environmental Pillar - Andrew St Ledger; An Taisce - Elaine McGoff; SWAN -Mark Boyden; Irish Wildlfe Trust - Pádraic Fogarty; Birdwatch Ireland - Oonagh Duggan; Woodlands of Ireland - Joe Gowran; Irish Rural Link - Seamus Boland; COFORD-Eugene Hendrick; Irish Forestry Owners - Nicholas Sweetman; Forest Owners Co-operative Society/Limerick/Tipperary Woodland Owners - Kathryn O’Donoghue; Irish Green Building Council - Pat Barry