Chambers raises forestry licencing crisis in Seanad

THE licencing crisis facing the forestry sector has been raised in the Seanad by Mayo Senator Lisa Chambers.

She commented: “There is a significant crisis in the forestry sector due to the huge backlog in issuing of afforestation and felling licences. Farmers and forestry owners have trees that are ready to fell but cannot get a licence from the Department of Agriculture.

“There are in excess of 1,000 afforestation licenses and thousands of felling licences awaiting decision.”

This is a hugely important industry in rural Ireland and the crisis is having a social, economic and environmental impact on rural communities, she stated.

“We are 15,000 behind target in afforestation targets and that is a big loss in terms of lost carbon sequestration. Given the ongoing debate around climate change this seems like a foolish thing to have allowed happen.

“In order to survive, nurseries are exporting seeds and sawmills are importing logs and timber to service the Irish market. This is a ridiculous situation that the Department of Agriculture has allowed to develop.

“The crisis is having a direct impact on timber supply and driving up the price of timber. It is making it more difficult and expensive to build homes which is something we have to be very vigilant of.”

Senator Chambers called on the Department of Agriculture to engage with the forestry sector and clear the backlog without further delay.”