Forestry sector expansion ‘will be restricted unless Bill amended’

Expansion in forestry will be restricted unless the Forestry Bill is amended, the IFA told the joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture yesterday.

IFA forestry chair Michael Fleming said farmers need a legislative framework that supports farm-level timber production, and satisfies the multi-functional aspects of modern forestry.

“The requirement to submit a management plan, which may be approved, rejected, revoked or revised at any stage is an unnecessary barrier to afforestation and the mobilisation of the timber resource,” said Mr Fleming. “It increases the administrative burden, the management costs associated with an operation.