Forestry is a potential €5m money tree

THE estimated potential harvested value of forestry owned by 14,000 farmers and landowners is close to €5 billion, it was revealed at the weekend.

George McCarthy, chairman, Irish Forest Industry Chain (IFIC), highlighted the potential when a national campaign was launched to boost farm income and rural employment through additional afforestation.

He said this potential represents a vital future income source and pension fund for farmers and their families.

Mr McCarthy said over 90% of the 140,000 hectares of forestry planted since 1996 is owned by farmers and landowners, who now account for 0.3 million of the 0.7m hectares of the national forest estate.

He said the inevitable move to renewable energy will result in increased demand for forest thinnings as substitutes for oil and gas for heating and energy, further enhancing the returns from forestry. The campaign, launched on Friday, focuses on over 40,000 farmers and highlights the income, environmental and amenity advantages to be gained from converting part of their farms to forestry.

It is aimed in particular at low-income drystock farmers and farmers who have lower than average single farm payment entitlements. Part-time farmers, who are seeking an enterprise with a low labour requirement, are also being targeted.

This is a joint initiative by IFIC and the Department of Agriculture and Food.

It will involve an intensive information and advisory campaign, involving all organisations in the forestry sector.

Forestry Minister Mary Wallace said the economics of planting trees were never more attractive than now.

The concession that allows farmers to plant up to 50% of their farms while still retaining their full EU single farm payment offers the opportunity to significantly boost income.

She said: “Just 10% of our land area is under trees, compared to 38% for the EU as a whole.”

Minister Wallace said the National Forest Strategy has set a target of 17% forest cover by 2030 and the campaign aims to re-invigorate planting in order to ensure that this target is met.