New forestry minister needs to be top priority, says forest owners

The Irish Forestry Owners group have called on the government to appoint a new forestry minister to avoid another year of afforestation targets not being reached

The Irish Forest Owners chairman Nicholas Sweetman said 'afforestation remains the country’s largest land-based climate mitigation measure.'

The body of national forestry owners is calling for a new forestry minister to be appointed without delay to prevent another year of missed afforestation targets.

The Irish Forest Owners (IFO) acknowledge the work of the outgoing minister, Michael Healy-Rae, and what he was able to accomplish during his time as forestry minister, but have called on the government to appoint a new minister as quickly as possible.

The IFO says the forest industry is critically important in Ireland’s climate action program and has faced major challenges for several years, resulting in missed afforestation targets.

IFO chairman Nicholas Sweetman said there needs to be “serious political heft” to support the sector and to try to ensure targets are met. 

He explained the national annual target for afforestation, set at 8,000 hectares, has been consistently missed by over 60%, with patterns looking to repeat this year despite the best efforts of the forest service.

Mr Sweetman called for action, saying: “Minister Healy-Rae’s resignation leaves a vacuum, and it is imperative that a new appointment to the position of minister for forestry be made promptly. Any temptation to subsume the role into the portfolio of existing ministries needs to be resisted.” 

“There remain significant conflicts within national policy that affect the realisation of any national forestry programme. On the one hand, the country faces massive fines for missing climate targets, possibly €18 billion from 2030; yet, regarding Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, afforestation remains the country’s largest land-based climate mitigation measure.” 

Mr Sweetnam said there were many factors resulting in the “lamentably low” afforestation rates, as well as a “persistent, inaccurate view” of the environmentally beneficial value of commercial forestry. 

He highlighted Teagasc research, which reports coniferous forestry as the most efficient method of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“We need a minister for forestry who will tackle the many political issues restricting afforestation in Ireland head-on. Forestry needs to be regarded as a National Strategic Resource and requires coherent thinking, encouragement and removal of obstacles to planting. This is not a task for a part-time minister,” Mr Sweetman concluded.