Bird of prey concern for 109 landowners

AGRICULTURE and Food Minister Mary Coughlan has confirmed that 109 of the 925 applications for afforestation grant aid being processed by the Forest Service at the end of November were in respect of areas proposed as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the hen harrier.

Responding to questions in the Dáil from Gerard Murphy, TD, Fine Gael, Cork North-West, she said the European Commission have expressed the gravest concern at any further planting in areas identified by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government as important for survival of the hen harrier — until it is possible to fully access the impact of forestry on the species.

“In order to do that, it is necessary to work out what type of management regime needs to be put in place to accommodate both forestry and the hen-harrier in the areas being proposed as Special Protection Areas,” Ms Coughlan said.