Latest news with #ReconstitutionofAshDiebackScheme
Agriland
4 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
DAFM issued afforestation licences for 2,043ha in first 7 months
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued licences for 2,043ha of afforestation in the first seven months of 2025. The latest forestry data shows the department issued 267 afforestation licences by August 1, while 275 valid afforestation applications had been received. Some 1,775ha have been planted so far this year, with the highest amount of planting occuring in April (378ha). 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 Tree Area Scheme (NTAS). Up to August 1, DAFM had issued 591 private felling licences, with 791 applications being submitted. There has been 201 felling licences issued for Coillte sites; the State-owned commercial forestry business has lodged 514 felling applications. Overall, the department has issued felling licences for 9,938ha so far this year. 376 licences have been granted for 136km of forestry roads, with 49km constructed by August 1. The figures also show that 307 licences issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 988ha. 153 licences have been approved for the NTAS (168ha), 110 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (640ha) and 81 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (373ha). 38 licences have been issued for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme covering 226ha. Six licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 47ha. The department has received 31 appeals relating to afforestation so far this year, 13 on forest roads and 23 on tree felling.
Agriland
10-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Over 40 forestry licences issued last week
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 41 forestry licences in the first week of June. This marks an increase on the 36 licences granted by department officials in the previous week. According to the latest figures, published by the department, 23 of the licences issued last week related to felling, with 13 for private forestry owners and 10 for Coillte plantations, covering over 200ha. There were 11 licences issued for forest roads last week and a further seven for afforestation. Forestry Up to last Friday (June 6), DAFM had issued 384 private felling licences and 144 Coillte felling licences relating to a total of 6,474ha. The department has received 540 applications for private felling and 171 for felling at Coillte sites so far this year. So far this year, 210 afforestation licences have been issued for a total of 1,627ha. The department said that 176 valid afforestation licences had been submitted by June 6. A total of 1,243ha of forestry has been planted so far this year, with the highest amount planted in April (378ha). DAFM 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). The data shows that 272 licences have been issued for 94km of forestry roads; 38km of roads have been constructed so far in 2025. Licences There have been 207 licences issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 676ha. The department has issued 17 licences for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme covering 94ha. 122 licences have been approved for the NTAS (134ha), 50 for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (291ha) and 56 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (239ha). Two licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 17ha.
Agriland
06-06-2025
- 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.
