Latest news with #DeerTreeShelter
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Forestry: 505 felling licences issued so far this year
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 505 felling licences to forestry owners by the end of May this year. 371 of the licences were granted to private owners, while the remaining 134 related to Coillte forests. The licences issued up to May 30 cover a total area of 6,261ha. In 2024, felling licences were a total of 21,850ha, down from 33,416 in the previous year. Of the 693 felling licences applied for so far in 2025, 520 have been submitted by private owners. Last week, 23 felling licences were issued by the department, down from 26 in the previous week. Forestry In the first five months of the year, 203 afforestation licences were issued relating to 1,580ha. The department said that 166 valid afforestation licences have been submitted this year. A total of 1,242ha of forestry has been planted so far this year, with the highest amount, 378ha, planted in April. The latest forestry dashboard figures from DAFM note that the figures for afforestation planted in 2025 reflect afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS). The government has set an annual target of 8,000ha of new forestry in order to meet climate targets. A total of 261 licences have been issued for 91km of forestry roads – the data shows that 37km of roads have been constructed so far in 2025. There have been 195 licences issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 637ha. 122 licences have been approved for the NTAS (133ha), 44 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (256ha) and 56 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (239ha). Two licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 17ha. The department has issued 16 licences for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme covering 91ha.
Agriland
21-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
33 forestry licences issued by DAFM last week
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued a total of 33 forestry licences last week, including four for afforestation. This marks an increase on the 25 licences granted by the department in the previous week. The latest forestry dashboard, published by the department, shows that 14 of the licences issued last week related to private felling, with three Coillte felling licences issued. Up to May 16, DAFM had issued a total of 340 private felling licences and 116 Coillte felling licences for a total of 5,724ha. The department has received 431 private felling and 173 Coillte felling licences applications so far this year. Forestry The department issued four afforestation licences last week, down from six in the previous week. This brings the total afforestation licences granted this year by DAFM to 193 relating to 1,508ha. DAFM said that 1,146ha has been planted in so far in 2025. This figure reflects afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS). 12 of the licences granted last week were for forestry roads, bringing the total number of these licences issued in 2025 to 239 covering 82km. There has been 40km of roads constructed this year. The Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) said that last week's performance 'comes on the back of a low spell for licensing, with the previous 5 weeks all well below expectations'. 'Periods like this make it clear that the current forestry programme has issues. Not enough hectares are being licensed or planted, and many schemes are not hitting their full potential. 'Earlier this year, SEEFA submitted input for the programme's mid-term review, and we hope to see some changes made to increase activity in DAFM and on the ground,' the association said. Licences The latest department data also shows that 163 licences have been issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 543ha. 111 licences have been approved for the NTAS (123ha), 27 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (159ha) and 55 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (2237ha). 14 licences have been issued for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme covering 84ha. Two licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 17ha. The department has received 21 appeals relating to afforestation so far this year, 10 on forest roads and eight on tree felling.
Agriland
13-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Just 25 forestry licences issued by DAFM last week
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued just 25 forestry licences last week, over half of which were for private felling. This marks a significant decrease on the 56 licences granted by the department in the previous week. According to the latest forestry dashboard, published by the department, 14 of the licences issued last week were for private felling and while there were no Coillte felling licences issued. Up to May 9, DAFM had issued a total of 326 private felling licences and 113 Coillte felling licences for a total of 5,446ha. Forestry The department issued six afforestation licences last week, down from 11 in the previous week. This brings the total afforestation licences granted this year by DAFM to 189 relating to 1,478ha. The data shows that 1,079ha has been planted in 2025. This figure reflects afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS). Last week saw a further 5 licences issued for forestry roads bringing the total to 227 covering 78km. There has been 40km of roads constructed this year. The figures also show that 153 licences issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 521ha. 101 licences have been approved for the NTAS (111ha), 24 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (151ha) and 51 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (223ha). 10 licences have been issued for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme covering 60ha. Two licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 17ha. The department has received 16 appeals relating to afforestation so far this year, 10 on forest roads and 7 on tree felling. SEEFA The Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) said that last week was a 'shocking performance reminiscent of the unacceptably low levels of 2023'. 'Although significant progress has been made over the past 18 months, performances like last week's simply cannot be allowed to happen. 'Even one week at this poor level can set us back months in achieving our environmental and economic objectives, undermining hard-won gains,' it said. The association has urged Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Michael Healy-Rae and his department 'to investigate the underlying causes of last week's disappointing licensing numbers'. 'Immediate action is essential to prevent a return to the unsustainable licensing backlog and numbers that plagued the sector in previous years,' SEEFA said.
Agriland
07-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
DAFM issued over 30 felling licences last week
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 56 forestry licences last week, over half of which were for felling. This marks another weekly increase in the number of licences issued by the department, following 43 in the previous week. According to the latest forestry dashboard, published by the department, 28 of the licences issued last week were for private felling and three were for Coillte felling. Up to May 2, DAFM had issued a total of 312 private felling licences and 113 Coillte felling licences for a total of 5,251ha. DAFM Last week, there were 11 afforestation licences issued by the department, up from 9 in the previous seven days. DAFM has now issued 183 afforestation licences in 2025 relating to 1,447ha. Some 127 valid applications have been received by the department. A total of 1,005ha of forestry has been planted so far this year, with 378ha of that figure planted in April. The department noted that the figures for afforestation planted in 2025 reflect afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS). There were 14 licences issued for forestry roads last week, bringing the total for 2025 to 222 relating to 77km. The latest data shows that 37km of roads have been constructed this year. The data also shows that 144 licences issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 493ha. 90 licences have been approved for the NTAS (98ha), 22 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (145ha) and 50 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (217ha). 9 licences have been issued for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme covering 57ha. Two licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 17ha. Forestry licences Commenting on the latest data, the Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) said: 'Although last week's licensing numbers remain around halfway to the ideal weekly target, there was an overall improvement compared to the previous two weeks, signalling a modest recovery following the Easter period. 'While 11 afforestation licenses were issued, these cover only 67 hectares, nearly two-thirds below the required weekly average. 'On a positive note, road and felling licenses have increased, with felling licenses up by 10 from the prior week.' 'Inconsistency continues to be a persistent challenge within the current forestry programme. 'Achieving consistently high licensing numbers will not only help Ireland meet its planting targets and environmental ambitions but also enhance confidence within the forestry sector. 'We anticipate further improvements as we approach the 6-9 month mark following the storm damage to Ireland's forests,' the association added.
Agriland
29-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
43 forestry licences granted last week by DAFM
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued a total of 43 forestry licences last week, including nine for afforestation. This is an increase on the 32 forestry licences issued by department officials during the previous week. The latest forestry dashboard, published by the department, shows that 18 of the licences issued last week were for private felling and four were for Coillte felling. Up to April 25, DAFM had issued a total of 284 private felling licences and 110 Coillte felling licences for a total of 4,920ha. There were 12 licences issued for forestry roads last week, bringing the total for 2025 to 185 relating to 65km. The latest data shows that 37km of roads have been constructed this year. Forestry The DAFM has now issued 172 afforestation licences in 2025 relating to 1,380ha. Some 111 valid applications have been received by the department. A total of 749ha of forestry has been planted so far this year, with 122ha of that planted in April. The department noted that the figures for afforestation planted in 2025 reflect afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS). There have been 131 licences issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 448ha. 76 licences have been approved for the NTAS (84ha), 22 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (145ha) and 48 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (214ha). Two licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 17ha. SEEFA The Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) voiced concern about the level of forestry licensing. 'For the second week running, forestry licensing numbers remain low across all categories. 'Only 43 licences were issued last week, including just 9 afforestation licences covering 96 hectares, just over 57 hectares short of the weekly target needed to achieve the annual goal of 8,000 hectares. 'Felling licences also continue to fall significantly short of pre-2024 levels, while road licensing results remain modest. 'Despite this, April as a whole is still one of the strongest months for forestry licensing in recent years. 'While this improvement is encouraging, we hope the poor performance of the past two weeks becomes an exception rather than a return to previous norms,' it said.
