New Board of Forest Certification a positive development
The department has agreed to provide resources to the board once a chairperson is appointed.
The establishment of the Group Forest Certification Ireland Board as a positive development for the sector, says the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
This follows the inaugural meeting of the board, which was held this week. IFA forestry policy executive Amy Mulchrone has been appointed as a member of the board by forestry minister Michael Healy-Rae.
IFA farm forestry chair Padraig Stapleton said: “The establishment of the Group Forest Certification Ireland board is a positive initiative by the minister. The increased focus on voluntary certification of privately-owned forests that this board will now hopefully bring should significantly scale up the area certified.
To date, only 8% are certified, substantially lower than Coillte plantations, which have dual certification from both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme of Forest Certification (PEFC).
At the inaugural meeting of the board, the department gave a presentation on the new electronic management plan system (iPlan) that has been developed to standardise management plans.
All eligible forest owners can apply for a €1,200 grant aid per management plan under the existing Forestry Programme 2023-2027. Forest management plans are a requirement for forest certification.
“The national certification structures will take account of the business plan already prepared by an industry-led working group established on the issue in 2024, in which IFA was actively involved. The business plan reflects those discussions, including the opportunities, challenges, and proposed solutions to fund and create a certification scheme for private forestry owners.
"The department will provide resources such as the secretariat to the board for two years, with the level of funding available from the department to be agreed once the board chairperson is appointed,” Mr Stapleton said.
