mobilising ireland’s forest resource - coford · this report presents a review of progress in...
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Mobilising Ireland’s Forest ResourceMeeting the challengesAuthored by the COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting Group
Mobilising Ireland’s Forest ResourceMeeting the challengesAuthored by the COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting Group
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COFORD Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Agriculture House Kildare Street Dublin 2 Ireland © COFORD 2018 First published in 2018 by COFORD, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dublin, Ireland. The COFORD Council for Forest Research and Development is a representative body from the Forest Sector in Ireland. The Council advises the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine on research and developmental issues. Working groups established by the COFORD Council provide an important role in facilitating the development of the forest sector in Ireland. ISBN: 978-1-902696-85-0All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from COFORD.Title: Mobilising Irelands Forest. Meeting the challenges Authors: COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting GroupCitation: COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting Group 2018. Mobilising Irelands Forest Resource. Meeting the challenges .COFORD, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dublin. Photography courtesy of Eoin O’Driscoll, Drima marketing and DAFMDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication belong to the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of COFORD or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While every effort has been made to ensure the information provided is accurate, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not accept any responsibility or liability for errors of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, nor for the consequences of any decisions based on this information.
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ForewordThis report presents a review of progress in meeting the wood mobilisation challenges outlined in the 2015 report Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource. In the interim two key pieces of work have been completed, which provide further insight into future wood supply and demand on the island of Ireland, namely the All Ireland Production Roundwood Forecast 2016-2035 and an accompanying document to this report: Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025.The COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting Group has carefully worked through the recommendations in the 2015 report. Significant progress has been made in some areas, but the review has identified that a number of regulatory and investment challenges remain. These must be addressed in a coherent and planned way to realise the undoubted potential that exists to effectively double wood harvest over the next two decades: the roundwood forecast anticipates that production on the island will double from the current 4 million cubic metres to close to 8 million cubic metres by 2035. Almost all of the increase is forecasted to come from privately owned forests in the Republic of Ireland, largely established over the past three decades.Through the work of the COFORD Council the forest sector must continue in its endeavours and gather the evidence and argue its case forcefully and effectively to enable measures that will mobilise the available wood resource. Realising the economic potential of increased harvesting will also require feedback from monitoring of the levels of harvest (supply) and demand, and how these relate to the All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035. Ireland has a dynamic, fast growing forest sector and modern, efficient sawmills which have all developed on the strength of a near 10-fold expansion in forest cover achieved since the 1920s. Demand by indigenous industry on the island of Ireland for forest fibre remains strong, and already exceeds the capacity of state and private forests to meet it. Future demand is set to significantly expand in a range of sectors. Looking to the sawmilling sector, demand is forecast to outstrip indigenous supply by 0.7 million cubic metres by 2020, but is expected to come into balance by 2025, on foot of the increasing level of supply. Substantial increases in demand are also predicted for the wood-based panel and wood energy sectors, especially on the energy side. The prediction is that demand by the WBP sector will be met in full by indigenous supply in the period up to 2025. The wood energy sector is however a different story. Based on demand side work undertaken by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and by COFORD, and as outlined in the Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025 report that accompanies this document, the wood energy supply gap in the RoI could be upwards of 1.4 million cubic metres by 2020, increasing to 2 million cubic metres by 2025. And while an increase in the level of harvest to meet wood energy demand is forecast, there is likely to be a need for sizeable wood energy imports to fill the anticipated supply gapAll supply/demand scenarios are predicated on a suitable price point being available to the grower from the energy market, minimal external shocks such as a hard Brexit and, above all, mobilising the indigenous wood resource. It is clear that a balanced approach to the development of the island’s wood resource is required, along with a concerted and sustained wood mobilisation effort, allied to State and private sector investment. In order to achieve these goals the sector needs to maintain a strong focus on the wood mobilisation issue and continue to address the recommendations in this report, and other issues which will inevitably arise in the future. Mike Glennon Chairperson, COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting GroupMichael Lynn Chairman, COFORD Council
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COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting Group membership
Mike Glennon, Glennon Brothers, ChairKarl Coggins, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Forest Service)Patrick Collins, Irish Farmers Association (IFA)Owen Cooney, Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA)Michael Fairgrieve, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Forest Service, Northern IrelandEugene Hendrick, FSD/COFORD Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the MarineNoel Kennedy, Teagasc Neil Kerrigan, Enterprise IrelandRichard Latimer, Irish Timber Council (ITC)Daragh Little, Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association (IFFPA)Liam Malone, CoillteEoin O’Driscoll, drima marketingGeraldine O’Sullivan, Irish Farmers Association (IFA) John Redmond, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Forest Service)Mark Twomey, Forest Service (Group Secretary)
The COFORD Council for Forest Research and Development is a representative body from the Forest Sector in Ireland. The Council advises the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on research and developmental issues. Working groups established by the COFORD Council provide an important role in facilitating the development of the forest sector in Ireland.
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Table of ContentsSummary of challenges ahead and recent achievements .....................................................................9
Section 1.............................................................................................................................................12
1.1 Group objective and terms of reference ....................................................................................12
1.2 Work process, report compilation and structure ........................................................................13
1.3 Overview of recomendations progress from Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource ..................14
Section 2.............................................................................................................................................15
Cluster reports .....................................................................................................................................15
Cluster 1: Impacts of felling practices and rotation lengths on future assortment availability, resource optimisation and forecasting, provision of harvest information .........................................15
Cluster 2: Renewables policies and measures, mobilisation and potential competition for fibre ....22
Cluster 3: Felling licences, planning permission for forest entrances and forest roads ..................24
Planning permission for forest entrances ......................................................................................25
Forest roads ..................................................................................................................................26
Cluster 4: Coillte resource, and wider road infrastructure and haulage investment, and transport technology .......................................................................................................................................28
Road investment, timber haulage and transport technology .........................................................30
Cluster 5: Information and advice relevant to private woodland owners and others on wood mobilisation, taxation .......................................................................................................................34
Voluntary forest certification for private forest owners ...................................................................35
Management interventions ............................................................................................................37
Roundwood assortment price information .....................................................................................38
Taxation treatment of forest income ..............................................................................................39
Cluster 6: Training and research .....................................................................................................40
Cluster 7: Environmental designations and procedures ..................................................................43
Rights-of-way ................................................................................................................................45
Cluster 8: Medium term policy challenges arising since publication of Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource in 2015 ............................................................................................................................46
Section 3.............................................................................................................................................49
3.1 Synthesis of recommendation narratives and general discussion of wood mobilisation issues 49
3.2 Short-term challenges to wood mobilisation ..............................................................................50
3.3 Medium term challenges to wood mobilisation ..........................................................................51
3.4 Overall conclusions ...................................................................................................................54
References and bibliography ...............................................................................................................55
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................57
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1
Summary of challenges ahead and recent achievementsDemand by indigenous industry for forest fibre on the island of Ireland already exceeds the supply capacity of state and private forests (COFORD Wood Mobilisation Group 2018). Despite the forecasted near doubling of roundwood output on an all Ireland basis from 3.95 million m³ in 2017 to 7.86 million m³ by 2035, an existing supply deficit is likely to substantially increase over the period up to 2025 and beyond, with wood energy demand being a key driver. A significant feature of the forecasted supply is that almost all of the increase is forecast to be from privately owned forests in the Republic. However, as indicated in the Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025 report, significant imports of wood energy and other assortments will be necessary to meet projected demand. To aid in interpretation this document should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025 report, which provides further insights on likely future wood supply/demand balance.Ensuring a balanced approach to the development of the island’s wood resource to best meet the needs of the processing and energy sectors will be a key challenge, allied to the need to maximise the supply from indigenous wood sources.A key issue that the COFORD Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting Group (CWMPFG) has addressed was how to remove barriers to indigenous wood mobilisation which were identified in the 2015 COFORD publication Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource (COFORD Wood Mobilisation Group. 2015), in order to enable forecasted wood supply to be achieved and exceeded. This report outlines the level of progress achieved by the forest sector at large.
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Achievements – recent measures put place in support of wood mobilisationOver the past three years since the 2015 COFORD report, good progress has been made in supporting increased levels of wood mobilisation including:
1. the All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035 (Phillips et al. 2016) and the associated online GIS portal.
2. the commencement of the Forestry Act 2014 which has inter alia: • introduced a single licence process for tree felling;• established a statutory objective to ensure that every felling licence is
determined within a period of 4-month; • made statutory provision for the introduction of Forest Management Plans
(FMP) which is also designed to streamline long-term felling licensing3. the high earners income restriction has been removed from forestry profits
and income from the occupation of commercial woodlands is exempt from income tax.
4. the Forestry Programme 2014-2020 provides for 690 km of forest roads to be built. Additional recent scheme changes include grant aid assistance provision for special construction works in environmentally sensitive areas, along with bell-mouth allowances onto public roads.
5. the mid-term review the Forestry Programme 2014-2020 provides for:- Increase of 2% in establishment grants for GPCs 1 - 3 - 7% increase in grant and 5% increase in premium for GPCs 4 -10- Increase of 2% in premium for those who plant over 10 ha.- The minimum mandatory requirement per site will increase from 10% to 15% broadleaves- Agro forestry and forestry for fibre increases - Support for continuous cover forestry for the first time- New forest deer fencing and tree shelter scheme- Increase in fencing cap across all GPC’s from 120 m to 140 m per hectare- an increase in allowable road density from 20 m/ha to 25 m/ha.- The Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS) will now be opened up to non grant aided broadleaf forests and all broadleaf mixtures that meet the required eligibility criteria.- In addition to a WIS 1st grant of €750 /ha, all eligible broadleaf forests will now be eligible for a 2nd thinning grant of €500 /ha.
6. the establishment and roll out by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture food and the Marine (DAFM) of a Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme.
7. establishment of two certification groups for private forest owners.8. the launch of the specially commissioned Forest Service Felling Decision Tool
providing information to forest owners on the optimum time to fell their forest.9. the availability in the public domain of wood price information through the
ITGA/UCD compiled Wood Price Quarterly, the IFA quarterly timber price reports and other sources.
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10. Coillte’s decision to allow insured third party trainers and machine operator trainees to train on Coillte lands, free of charge, which facilitates training in chainsaw felling, processing trees and windthrown areas to City & Guilds/ NPTC Level 3 standard.
11. the announcement in December 2017 that a Support Scheme for Renewable Heat is being introduced after securing Government approval.
12. the work of Teagasc in providing advice to growers regarding thinning and the highly successful Talking Timber events, which also bring together growers and those buying roundwood.
Challenges aheadHowever, significant short- and medium-term challenges remain to the mobilisation of the RoI roundwood resource, not least the need for continued effort to streamline regulations and for continued public and private investment on infrastructure and technology. It is therefore imperative that the following outstanding mobilisation challenges, which summarise those in the main body of the report, are addressed over the short to medium term:
Short term 1. Public road network There is an urgent need for increased investment by Local Authorities in the
local road network to facilitate wood transport to the end user. Allied to this investment is the need for a planned and continuous engagement with Local Authorities on preferred wood transport routes and related technologies and systems for road haulage. The valuable work being done of the Forest Industry Transport Group in this area needs to be augmented, and adequately resourced by both state and private players.
2. Forest road entrances The single Consent System for forest road entrances under the aegis of DAFM
needs to be introduced as a matter of urgency. The present arrangement whereby forest owners are required to receive planning approval for new forest road entrances from the relevant Local Authority is acting as a barrier to wood mobilisation.
3. Lack of engagement by some forest owners in managing their forest enterprise
The lack of active engagement by some forest owners in the management of their enterprise is a concern. To address this issue there is a need for continued awareness raising and encouragement and engagement from DAFM and industry, and for strong demand for all wood species and assortments. The development of forest owner knowledge and skills through peer-to-peer learning to foster forest management culture will also help in this regard.
Medium term1. Maintaining strong roundwood demand in the context of Brexit Given the UK is and will continue to be, by far the dominant market for
Irish wood products the implications of Brexit on exports, and ultimately on roundwood demand and mobilisation, could be serious for the forest sector as a whole. On the supply side, the risk associated with Brexit includes possible changes to trade and logistic arrangements which could restrict roundwood flow. In particular, any revision or transitional Plant Health arrangements could significantly impact the movement of roundwood into and within the island of Ireland from a post Brexit UK.
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2. Certification Few privately owned forests are currently certified under the voluntary Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes. As the level of supply from the private sector increases, the lack of certification is likely to become a barrier to wood sales and mobilisation. Costs of voluntary forest certification are also an issue for private forest owners, and certification bodies need to be conscious of this when setting charges. It is essential that the work initiated in discussion groups, knowledge transfer and forest certification groups be scaled up to remove any potential mobilisation issues due to market barriers arising from a lack of certification. All industry stakeholders have an important role to play in this regard.
3. Felling licence system and forest management plans Significant progress has been made over the past number of years in the time
to process and decide on felling licence applications. Further enhancements are likely to be needed as the volume of applications increases in the coming years, including linking licensing to approval and implementation of forest management plans.
4. Common Agricultural Policy – post 2020 In November 2017, the European Commission presented a communication
outlining ideas on the future of food and farming (European Commission 2017). The communication followed a consultation process on the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP), in order to better understand where the current policy can be simplified and modernised. Draft CAP proposals were published by the European Commission on the 1st June 2018. These documents will form the basis of the next forestry programme and will also influence the new guidelines on State aid in the agriculture and forestry sectors. It is essential that Ireland effectively engages with the European Commission and the Council to ensure that provisions are in place to adequately support a wide range of measures. These should include further expanding the forest resource and longer-term wood supply, the emerging bioeconomy, and continued grant aid support for forest road construction and broadleaf management. The provision of grant aid for appropriate equipment for use in small scale harvesting and areas of low ground bearing capacity also merits consideration. Finally, initiatives to create local wood markets need to be encouraged, especially where barriers, such as the cost of road haulage to market exist.
5. Wood energy The new Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and a consequent likely increase
in wood energy demand may lead to added pressure on the supply of small-sized roundwood for fencing and wood-based panel manufacture.
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Section 1
1.1 Group objective and terms of referenceObjectiveThe group’s overall objective was to stimulate wood mobilisation to meet or exceed production forecasts, taking into account national renewables policy.
Terms of reference1. Review and report on recommendations contained in Mobilising Ireland’s Forest
Resource, published on the 4 March 2015, including rotation length practices. 2. Review and report on roundwood forecasting systems and outcomes, including
actual and forecasted harvest levels. Promotion of the national forecasting system and the associated spatial tool.
3. Review and input to national renewables policy and the development of measures such as the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat – and the need for a balanced approach between energy provision and raw material for board and sawnwood manufacture.
1.2 Work process, report compilation and structureThe work reported here arises from an appraisal by the CWMPFG of levels of progress made in addressing the recommendations in the 2015 report Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource. It is to be read in conjunction with the group’s accompanying wood supply/demand report: Wood Supply and demand on the island of Ireland to 2025. Other mobilisation issues which have arisen since the 2015 report were also addressed by the group and are referred to further on. The CWMPFG work was undertaken over the course of four meetings in 2016 and ten in 2017 under the auspices of the COFORD Council. The COFORD Council for Forest Research and Development is a representative body from the Forest Sector in Ireland. The Council advises the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on research and developmental issues.The main focus of the work was tracking the level of implementation of the recommendations in Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource, along with addressing new issues at national and industry levels related to roundwood and fibre mobilisation. The recommendations from the mobilisation report were clustered into thematic areas to facilitate an efficient review and to allow cross referencing, with an additional cluster added to address medium term policy challenges:
• Cluster 1: Impacts of felling practices and rotation lengths on future assortment availability, resource optimisation and forecasting, provision of harvest information
• Cluster 2: Renewables policies and measures, mobilisation and potential competition for fibre
• Cluster 3: Felling licences, planning permission for forest entrances and forest roads
• Cluster 4: Coillte resource, and broader road haulage and transport technology
• Cluster 5: Information and advice relevant to private woodland owners and others on wood mobilisation, taxation
• Cluster 6: Training and research
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• Cluster 7: Voluntary forest certification and chain of custody, environmental designations and procedures
• Cluster 8: Medium-term policy challenges for mobilisation arising since the publication of Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource in 2015.
The need for a balanced approach between energy provision and raw material for board and sawnwood manufacture also remained a key focus of the group. Where applicable, the responsibility for delivering recommendations was attributed to specific bodies in order to facilitate implementation and the future monitoring of progress. The level of implementation, expected date of completion and an associated narrative has been included for each recommendation. A small number of additional recommendations were added following discussion. Likewise, some of the priority ratings were changed; these are noted under the cluster reports.Most of the section headings from the mobilisation report were reworded to better reflect issues raised and discussed at meetings over the course of the CWMPFG’s work. They also reflect the availability of new information from the All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035 (Phillips et al. 2016) and the group’s Wood Supply and Demand in the Island of Ireland to 2025 report (COFORD Wood Mobilisation Group 2018). The priority rating system for the recommendations remains unchanged from the 2015 report:Priority 1: Critical for cost effective and efficient wood fibre mobilisation up to and beyond forecast levels, and for State and industry planning and investment, for implementation before the end of 2015 Priority 2: Essential for cost effective and efficient wood fibre mobilisation up to and beyond forecast levels, for implementation over the period 2015-2016Priority 3: Desirable for cost effective and efficient wood fibre mobilisation up to and beyond forecast levels, for implementation over the period 2015-2016.
1.3 Overview of recomendations progress from Mobilising Ireland’s Forest ResourceOf the 44 recommendations in the mobilisation report, the group found that:
• fifteen had been completed, • four were near completion,• twenty one were in progress, • two had yet to be initiated, and • two recommendations were deemed to be no longer applicable.
Of 28 Priority 1 recommendations, thirteen were completed, three are near completion, nine are in progress, 2 are yet to be initiated and one was deemed no longer applicable. It should be noted that all recommendations classified as “in progress” relate to ongoing initiatives that have been established.As referred to earlier, the group has updated the roundwood supply/demand balance for 2020 and 2025, largely based on the methodology used to compile Annex 1 in the 2015 report. This update is contained in the group’s report Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025.
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Section 2
Cluster reports
Cluster 1: Impacts of felling practices and rotation lengths on future assortment availability, resource optimisation and forecasting, provision of harvest informationAmong the important issues in this cluster is the anecdotal evidence of a trend in early felling of stands well in advance of the age of maximum mean annual increment and in advance of the reduced rotations used in the All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035. This practice can result in a 20-30% reduction in the yield of higher value wood assortments. While growers may be availing of high prices in the market, stands felled at these ages are unlikely to be providing the maximum financial return on either a discounted cash flow or internal rate of return basis. To address this issue information is now available to growers on the financial implications of rotation length choice with the Forest Service Online Felling Decision Tool (Figure 1). Shortened rotations will also reduce the level of sawlog-sized material coming available to the market in the medium to longer term.
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ing
Gro
upTh
e A
ll Ire
land
Rou
ndw
ood
Pro
duct
ion
Fore
cast
201
6-20
35 w
as p
ublic
ly la
unch
ed o
n th
e 19
Oct
ober
, 201
6.
The
CO
FOR
D W
ood
Mob
ilisa
tion
& F
orec
astin
g G
roup
w
ill ta
ke re
spon
sibi
lity
for t
he n
ext f
orec
ast,
due
in
2021
, and
the
obje
ctiv
es a
nd te
rms
of re
fere
nce
of
the
CW
MP
FG n
ow in
clud
e up
datin
g th
e fo
reca
st o
n a
5-ye
arcy
cle.
http
s://w
ww
.agr
icul
ture
.gov
.ie/fo
rest
serv
ice/
fore
stse
rvic
egen
eral
info
rmat
ion/
fore
stst
atis
ticsa
ndm
appi
ng/
roun
dwoo
dand
fore
stba
sedb
iom
assf
orec
astin
g/
12
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
38In
con
junc
tion
with
the
upda
te o
f the
fore
cast
, th
e st
akeh
olde
r gro
up to
cl
arify
the
over
all p
urpo
se
of th
e na
tiona
l for
ecas
t and
as
soci
ated
defi
nitio
ns a
nd
how
to d
isse
min
ate
the
fore
cast
thro
ugh
web
-bas
ed
inte
rface
s, a
nd p
rovi
de b
ette
r es
timat
es o
f the
fore
st-b
ased
bi
omas
s re
sour
ce p
oten
tially
av
aila
ble
for e
nerg
y pu
rpos
es
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
edA
ll Is
land
Rou
ndw
ood
Pro
duct
ion
Fore
cast
ing
Gro
upTh
e pu
rpos
e of
the
fore
cast
and
ass
ocia
ted
defin
ition
s ar
e co
vere
d in
the
fore
cast
repo
rt. D
isse
min
atio
n th
roug
h w
eb-b
ased
inte
rface
s is
cov
ered
und
er R
ecom
men
datio
n 2.
New
est
imat
es o
f for
est-b
ased
bio
mas
s av
aila
bilit
y ar
e av
aila
ble
in W
ood
Sup
ply
and
Dem
and
in th
e Is
land
of
Irel
and
to 2
025.
The
Gro
up re
com
men
ds th
at th
e ne
w
estim
ates
as
repo
rted
in T
able
s 7
and
12 o
f the
Woo
d su
pply
and
dem
and
on th
e is
land
of I
rela
nd to
202
5 do
cum
ent r
epla
ce th
ose
in T
able
1 o
f the
roun
dwoo
d fo
reca
st.
13
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of
impl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
39D
AFM
to c
ontin
ue th
e an
nual
de
term
inat
ion
of h
arve
st
thro
ugh
the
CO
FOR
D W
oodfl
ow
and
to c
ontin
ue to
repo
rt on
ha
rves
t in
rela
tion
to fo
reca
st
leve
ls a
nd to
exa
min
e w
ays
to im
prov
e th
e un
ders
tand
ing
and
utili
ty o
f nat
iona
l for
ecas
ts
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
ed fo
r the
pe
riod
2011
-201
6D
AFM
Mid
202
1 fo
r 5-
year
per
iod
2016
-202
0
On
foot
of w
ork
com
mis
sion
ed b
y th
e D
AFM
, drim
a m
arke
ting
pres
ente
d th
e G
roup
with
a c
ompa
rativ
e an
alys
is o
f act
ual r
ound
woo
d ha
rves
t vo
lum
es fo
r the
yea
rs 2
011
to 2
015
incl
usiv
e co
mpa
red
with
the
fore
cast
ed v
olum
es fo
r the
sam
e ye
ars,
as
estim
ated
by
the
2011
-20
28 fo
reca
st (s
ee ta
ble
belo
w).
The
wor
k sh
owed
that
alm
ost 9
6% o
f fo
reca
sted
vol
ume
was
har
vest
ed o
ver t
he 5
-yea
r per
iod.
Fore
cast
ed (n
et re
alis
able
vol
ume)
201
1-20
15 a
nd a
ctua
l woo
d ha
rves
t lev
els
The
All
Isla
nd R
ound
woo
d P
rodu
ctio
n Fo
reca
stin
g G
roup
exa
min
ed
way
s to
impr
ove
the
unde
rsta
ndin
g an
d ut
ility
of n
atio
nal f
orec
asts
; thi
s is
refle
cted
in th
e un
derly
ing
assu
mpt
ions
rela
ting
to th
e 20
16-2
035
fore
cast
whi
ch a
re o
utlin
ed in
the
fore
cast
repo
rt. T
he u
tility
of n
atio
nal
fore
cast
s w
as m
ainl
y ad
dres
sed
thro
ugh
the
fore
cast
tool
.
Year
Act
ual
Fore
cast
Diff
eren
ce%
of
fore
cast
000
m3 O
B
2011
2,95
23,
347
-397
88
2012
2,83
93,
121
-282
91
2013
3,03
63,
168
-132
96
2014
3,11
43,
064
5010
2
2015
3,08
03,
080
7710
3
14
Clu
ster
2: R
enew
able
s po
licie
s an
d m
easu
res,
mob
ilisa
tion
and
pote
ntia
l com
petit
ion
for fi
bre
Dem
and
side
ince
ntiv
es s
uch
as th
e a
revi
sed
RE
FIT
tarif
f, th
e ca
rbon
tax
and
the
new
Sup
port
Sch
eme
for R
enew
able
Hea
t sho
uld
have
a p
ositi
ve
role
in s
timul
atin
g de
man
d an
d br
ingi
ng a
dditi
onal
vol
umes
of r
ound
woo
d an
d re
sidu
es to
mar
ket.
They
hav
e th
e ef
fect
of m
akin
g ea
rly th
inni
ng
inte
rven
tions
mor
e ec
onom
ic, a
nd h
ence
brin
ging
forw
ard
the
prod
uctio
n of
saw
log-
size
d m
ater
ial.
It ha
s al
so to
be
reco
gnis
ed, h
owev
er, t
hat
smal
l siz
ed r
ound
woo
d su
itabl
e fo
r en
ergy
use
s is
als
o th
e m
ain
raw
mat
eria
l for
boa
rd m
anuf
actu
re, a
nd a
s w
ell,
that
saw
mill
ing
tech
nolo
gy is
co
nsta
ntly
evo
lvin
g an
d is
now
cap
able
of u
tilis
ing
smal
ler s
ized
mat
eria
l tha
n w
as fo
rmer
ly th
e ca
se. I
n th
is c
onte
xt it
is im
porta
nt th
at d
eman
d si
de
mea
sure
s as
they
are
impl
emen
ted
are
care
fully
des
igne
d an
d se
t at a
leve
l tha
t doe
s no
t ove
r inc
entiv
ise
parti
cula
r end
use
s, a
nd th
at m
arke
ts
are
not d
isto
rted.
R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
33Th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re,
Food
and
the
Mar
ine
to im
plem
ent
the
fore
stry
for fi
bre
mea
sure
in th
e Fo
rest
ry P
rogr
amm
e 20
14-2
020,
in
ord
er to
pro
vide
for a
dditi
onal
fo
rest
-bas
ed b
iom
ass
(Prio
rity
2).
Com
plet
edD
AFM
The
obje
ctiv
e of
this
mea
sure
is to
mee
t a
fore
cast
ed s
uppl
y-de
man
d ga
p fo
r fibr
e fo
r ene
rgy
and
othe
r woo
d pr
oduc
t app
licat
ions
by
grow
ing
mul
tiple
cro
p ro
tatio
ns o
n a
10-1
5 ye
ar c
ycle
with
w
ood
biom
ass
yiel
ds in
the
regi
on o
f 150
-300
m3/
ha. T
o da
te th
ere
has
been
ver
y lit
tle u
ptak
e of
the
mea
sure
. Upt
ake
is e
xpec
ted
to g
row
follo
win
g th
e si
gnifi
cant
incr
ease
in g
rant
and
pre
miu
m ra
tes
anno
unce
d un
der t
he M
id-te
rm R
evie
w o
f For
estry
P
rogr
amm
e.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
34D
eman
d si
de m
easu
res
rela
ted
to
rene
wab
les,
suc
h as
feed
-in ta
riffs
, th
e ca
rbon
tax
and
othe
r mea
sure
s to
be
upda
ted
as a
ppro
pria
te,
in o
rder
to p
rovi
de b
alan
ced
ince
ntiv
es fo
r inc
reas
ed w
ood
mob
ilisa
tion
(Prio
rity
1).
Nea
r com
plet
ion
Dep
artm
ent o
f C
omm
unic
atio
ns,
Clim
ate
Act
ion
&
Env
ironm
ent
Mid
to la
te 2
018
Und
er b
udge
t 201
8 a
€17
M fu
nd to
rollo
ut a
S
uppo
rt S
chem
e fo
r Ren
ewab
le H
eat a
nd o
ther
in
cent
ive
sche
mes
suc
h as
ele
ctric
al v
ehic
les
was
an
noun
ced.
Fro
m a
CW
MP
FG g
roup
vie
wpo
int t
he
key
mes
sage
is th
at Ir
ish
woo
d en
ergy
sup
plie
rs
have
the
capa
city
to s
uppl
y pa
rt of
this
mar
ket,
albe
it in
the
cont
ext o
f the
fore
cast
ed h
igh
leve
ls o
f im
ports
as
outli
ned
in W
ood
Sup
ply
and
Dem
and
in
the
Isla
nd o
f Ire
land
to 2
025.
The
2018
bud
get a
lso
anno
unce
d a
revi
ew o
f the
ca
rbon
tax
in ti
me
for t
he fo
llow
ing
budg
et.
15
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
35
In c
onju
nctio
n w
ith
Rec
omm
enda
tion
34, m
arke
t im
pact
s an
d w
ood
payi
ng c
apac
ity
impl
icat
ions
to b
e fu
lly a
sses
sed
by
rele
vant
gov
ernm
ent d
epar
tmen
ts
and
agen
cies
bef
ore
the
intro
duct
ion
or u
pdat
ing
of d
eman
d si
de m
easu
res
rela
ted
to fo
rest
-ba
sed
biom
ass
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
edD
epar
tmen
t of
Env
ironm
ent C
limat
e A
ctio
n an
d E
nerg
yS
EA
I
A ne
w S
uppo
rt S
chem
e fo
r Ren
ewab
le H
eat w
as
anno
unce
d by
gov
ernm
ent o
n th
e 7
Dec
embe
r 20
17. T
his
incl
uded
a d
etai
led
econ
omic
as
sess
men
t on
the
desi
gn a
nd c
ost o
f the
sch
eme.
S
EA
I has
bee
n ta
sked
with
the
deve
lopm
ent a
nd
oper
atio
n of
the
sche
me.
The
repo
rt W
ood
Sup
ply
and
Dem
and
on th
e Is
land
of I
rela
nd to
202
5 in
clud
es a
n es
timat
e of
th
e w
ood
ener
gy d
eman
d an
d po
tent
ial i
mpa
cts
of
an in
crea
se in
dem
and
for b
iom
ass
aris
ing
from
a
Sup
port
Sch
eme
for R
enew
able
Hea
t.
16
Clu
ster
3: F
ellin
g lic
ence
s, p
lann
ing
perm
issi
on fo
r for
est e
ntra
nces
and
fore
st ro
ads
Felli
ng li
cenc
e ap
plic
atio
ns s
houl
d be
pro
cess
ed a
s ra
pidl
y as
pos
sibl
e an
d no
t be
a ba
rrie
r to
the
mob
ilisa
tion
of ro
undw
ood.
The
link
ing
of fe
lling
lic
ence
app
rova
l with
the
subm
issi
on o
f lon
g-te
rm m
anag
emen
t pla
ns, a
s en
visa
ged
by th
e C
OFO
RD
For
est M
anag
emen
t Pla
nnin
g G
roup
, is
a si
gnifi
cant
ste
p fo
rwar
d in
faci
litat
ing
good
man
agem
ent p
ract
ices
and
the
mob
ilisa
tion
of ro
undw
ood.
The
val
idity
per
iod
for f
ores
t man
agem
ent
plan
s ca
n co
ver a
ll pla
nned
thin
ning
ope
ratio
ns u
p to
cle
arfe
lling
sta
ge. T
he ti
me
take
n fro
m s
ubm
issi
on to
felli
ng lic
ence
app
rova
l is n
ow s
umm
aris
ed
and
docu
men
ted
annu
ally.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
3Th
e va
lidity
per
iod
for f
ores
t m
anag
emen
t pla
ns fo
r fel
ling
licen
ce
purp
oses
sho
uld
exte
nd to
all
plan
ned
thin
ning
ope
ratio
ns u
p to
cle
arfe
lling
st
age
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
edD
AFM
The
Fore
stry
Act
201
4, w
hich
com
men
ced
in M
ay
2017
, int
rodu
ced
time
limits
on
the
felli
ng li
cenc
e va
lidity
per
iod,
pot
entia
lly u
p to
10
year
s, w
hich
m
ay b
e fu
rther
ext
ende
d up
on a
pplic
atio
n, b
y up
to
5 y
ears
. The
new
Act
als
o fa
cilit
ates
one
lice
nce
appl
icat
ion
for t
hinn
ing
and
clea
rfell
oper
atio
ns
unde
r a F
ores
t Man
agem
ent P
lan
(FM
P).
Rec
omm
enda
tion
4D
AFM
to re
port
annu
ally
on
the
num
ber o
f fel
ling
licen
ces
issu
ed,
brok
en d
own
by th
inni
ng, c
lear
fell
and
othe
r, an
d th
e tim
es ta
ken
for
issu
ance
of l
icen
ces,
in a
ccor
danc
e w
ith th
e pr
ovis
ions
in th
e Fo
rest
ry A
ct
2014
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
edD
AFM
Sin
ce M
ay 2
017,
the
proc
essi
ng o
f fel
ling
licen
ce a
pplic
atio
ns is
car
ried
out o
n th
e IF
OR
IS
digi
tal p
latfo
rm, m
akin
g it
easi
er to
trac
k lic
ence
ap
plic
atio
n, s
tatu
s, v
olum
es a
nd ty
pe. T
he F
ores
try
Act
201
4 es
tabl
ishe
d a
sta
tuto
ry o
bjec
tive
to e
nsur
e th
at e
very
felli
ng li
cenc
e is
det
erm
ined
with
in a
pe
riod
of 4
-mon
th. T
he F
ores
t Ser
vice
cur
rent
ly
repo
rt fe
lling
lice
nce
stat
istic
s on
a m
onth
ly b
asis
an
d th
is in
form
atio
n is
circ
ulat
ed to
the
sect
or.
17
Plan
ning
per
mis
sion
for f
ores
t ent
ranc
esP
lann
ing
appr
oval
for f
ores
t roa
d en
tranc
es n
eeds
to b
e st
ream
lined
, and
sho
uld
resi
de p
rimar
ily w
ith D
AFM
as
the
Dep
artm
ent t
hat i
s re
spon
sibl
e fo
r for
estry
regu
latio
n. T
he D
epar
tmen
t of H
ousi
ng, P
lann
ing,
Com
mun
ity a
nd L
ocal
Gov
ernm
ent’s
(DH
PC
LG) a
men
dmen
ts to
the
Pla
nnin
g an
d D
evel
opm
ent A
ct h
ave
now
bee
n pa
ssed
, brin
ging
the
Dep
artm
ent a
ste
p cl
oser
to is
suin
g pl
anni
ng fo
r for
est r
oad
entra
nces
. R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
5P
lann
ing
appr
oval
for f
ores
t roa
d en
tranc
es to
resi
de p
rimar
ily w
ith
DA
FM a
nd th
e m
atte
r to
be fi
nalis
ed
as s
oon
as p
ossi
ble
(Prio
rity
1).
Nea
r com
plet
ion
DA
FM a
nd
Dep
artm
ent o
f H
ousi
ng, P
lann
ing,
C
omm
unity
and
Loc
al
Gov
ernm
ent
Q4
2018
The
Fore
stry
Act
201
4, w
hich
com
men
ced
on th
e 24
M
ay 2
017,
incl
uded
pro
visi
ons
for t
he e
stab
lishm
ent o
f a
Fore
stry
App
eals
Com
mitt
ee w
hich
is n
ow in
pla
ce.
The
Pla
nnin
g an
d D
evel
opm
ent (
Am
endm
ent)
Bill
, 20
16 h
as n
ow b
een
sign
ed in
to la
w o
n th
e 19
Jul
y 20
18 a
nd o
nce
the
rele
vant
sec
tion
is c
omm
ence
d w
ill a
llow
a s
ingl
e co
nsen
t sys
tem
for f
ores
t roa
ds.
Fore
st R
egul
atio
ns a
nd a
dmin
istra
tive
proc
edur
es a
re
curr
ently
bei
ng a
men
ded.
Th
e la
ck o
f pro
gres
s on
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
cons
ent s
yste
m h
as im
pact
ed o
n w
ood
mob
ilisa
tion
prim
arily
from
priv
atel
y ow
ned
plan
tatio
ns. I
t is
estim
ated
that
for e
very
10k
m o
f roa
d no
t con
stru
cted
so
me
20,0
00 m
3 of p
oten
tial fi
rst t
hinn
ings
are
not
m
obili
sed,
and
this
is a
ccen
tuat
ed in
sub
sequ
ent
harv
estin
g. T
he a
bsen
ce o
f the
sin
gle
cons
ent s
yste
m
is s
tiflin
g gr
owth
in th
e se
ctor
, and
und
erm
inin
g co
nfide
nce
amon
gst g
row
ers
and
proc
esso
rs a
like,
jobs
ar
e no
t bei
ng c
reat
ed a
ddin
g to
a p
ublic
per
cept
ion
in
som
e pa
rts th
at fo
rest
ry is
not
con
tribu
ting
to th
e lo
cal
econ
omy.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
6A
n in
tegr
ated
per
mitt
ing
syst
em to
be
dev
elop
ed b
y D
AFM
to c
over
fo
rest
road
ent
ranc
es, f
ores
t roa
ds
and
asso
ciat
ed fe
lling
(Prio
rity
1).
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FM a
nd
Dep
artm
ent o
f H
ousi
ng, P
lann
ing,
C
omm
unity
and
Loc
al
Gov
ernm
ent
Q4
2018
The
Fore
stry
Act
201
4 ha
s be
en c
omm
ence
d an
d tra
nsfe
r of t
he fe
lling
lice
nce
syst
em o
nto
IFO
RIS
has
al
so b
een
com
plet
ed.
18
Fore
st ro
ads
Wel
l-pla
nned
and
eng
inee
red
fore
st r
oads
are
ess
entia
l for
effi
cien
t and
sus
tain
able
woo
d m
obili
satio
n, a
nd s
o th
at p
lant
atio
ns a
re th
inne
d on
tim
e an
d ro
undw
ood
prod
uctio
n fo
reca
sts
are
achi
eved
. Due
to h
igh
capi
tal c
osts
and
the
rela
tivel
y lo
w v
alue
of e
arly
thin
ning
s, g
rant
aid
for f
ores
t ro
ads
is a
t 100
% a
id in
tens
ity v
ital.
Onc
e es
tabl
ishe
d th
e in
frast
ruct
ure
will
ser
ve fo
r fu
ture
mob
ilisa
tion.
Tec
hnic
al a
spec
ts o
f roa
ding
gra
nts
to
be e
xam
ined
incl
ude
avai
labi
lity
of s
urfa
ce g
rade
lim
esto
ne a
nd p
ossi
ble
subs
titut
es th
at m
ight
mee
t the
requ
ired
spec
ifica
tions
, roa
ding
den
sity
, cu
lver
ts, a
nd th
e po
ssib
ility
of a
sta
ndar
d fo
r acc
ess
track
s be
ing
intro
duce
d (w
hich
wou
ld n
ot b
e of
the
sam
e st
anda
rd a
s fo
rest
road
s as
suc
h).
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
7G
rant
aid
for t
he in
stal
latio
n of
ne
w fo
rest
road
s to
faci
litat
e fir
st a
nd s
ubse
quen
t thi
nnin
gs
to b
e co
ntin
ued
in th
e ne
w
fore
stry
pro
gram
me
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
edD
AFM
The
Fore
stry
Pro
gram
me
2014
-202
0 pr
ovid
es fo
r the
co
nstru
ctio
n of
690
km
of f
ores
t roa
ds. A
dditi
onal
rece
nt
sche
me
chan
ges
incl
ude
spec
ial c
onst
ruct
ion
wor
ks in
en
viro
nmen
tally
sen
sitiv
e ar
eas,
alo
ng w
ith b
ell m
outh
al
low
ance
s on
to p
ublic
road
s. T
he g
roup
agr
ees
that
the
gran
t sch
eme
has
cons
iste
ntly
und
erpe
rform
ed s
ince
its
intro
duct
ion,
prim
arily
due
to th
e la
ck o
f the
sin
gle
cons
ent
syst
em. I
FFPA
and
the
IFA
belie
ve th
at in
adeq
uate
gra
nts
and
heav
y bu
reau
crac
y ar
e al
so m
ajor
fact
ors
and
that
th
e sc
hem
e sh
ould
pro
perly
take
into
acc
ount
the
cost
of
prof
essi
onal
s (e
.g. a
n en
gine
er) a
nd m
oder
n co
nstru
ctio
n re
quire
men
ts (H
ealth
and
Saf
ety/
empl
oyee
wel
fare
) and
a
prof
essi
onal
con
tract
ing
sect
or. A
revi
ew o
f the
road
ing
sche
me
perfo
rman
ce is
to b
e co
mpl
eted
by
the
CW
MP
FG to
as
sess
the
impa
ct o
f the
se c
hang
es a
nd th
e in
trodu
ctio
n of
th
e si
ngle
con
sent
sys
tem
.
19
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
8Te
chni
cal a
spec
ts o
f the
road
ing
spec
ifica
tions
to b
e ex
amin
ed
incl
udin
g re
gion
al d
iffer
ence
s,
avai
labi
lity
of s
urfa
ce g
rade
lim
esto
ne a
nd p
ossi
ble
alte
rnat
ives
, roa
ding
den
sity
, cu
lver
ts, a
nd th
e po
ssib
ility
of
intro
duci
ng a
sta
ndar
d fo
r for
est
track
s (P
riorit
y 3)
.
Nea
r com
plet
ion
CO
FOR
DQ
4 20
18D
urin
g 20
17 a
revi
ew o
f the
road
ing
tech
nica
l spe
cific
atio
n w
as u
nder
take
n by
DA
FM. O
bser
vatio
ns w
ere
soug
ht fr
om
indu
stry
sta
keho
lder
s.
The
outc
ome
of th
e re
view
is d
ue to
be
publ
ishe
d as
an
upda
te o
f the
CO
FOR
D c
ode
of p
ract
ice
for f
ores
t roa
ds in
20
18.
20
Clu
ster
4: C
oillt
e re
sour
ce, a
nd w
ider
road
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd h
aula
ge in
vest
men
t, an
d tr
ansp
ort t
echn
olog
yA
woo
d re
sour
ce w
ithin
the
Coi
llte
esta
te w
as n
ot b
eing
mob
ilise
d du
e to
hig
h ro
undw
ood
extra
ctio
n co
sts,
acc
ess
issu
es, l
ack
of m
arke
ts, s
peci
es
and
envi
ronm
enta
l con
stra
ints
. Som
e of
thes
e st
ands
con
tain
vol
umes
of s
awlo
g m
ater
ial.
Con
side
ratio
n w
as g
iven
to o
fferin
g so
me
of th
ese
stan
ds fo
r sal
e to
ena
ble
inte
rest
ed p
artie
s to
inve
st in
cab
le a
nd re
late
d sy
stem
s an
d re
cove
r cos
ts o
ver a
num
ber o
f yea
rs, r
athe
r tha
n ha
ving
to
rely
on
indi
vidu
al s
ales
tran
sact
ions
. C
oillt
e al
so h
ave
a nu
mbe
r of l
odge
pole
pin
e si
tes
whe
re th
ere
is p
oten
tial t
o re
cove
r sm
all s
awlo
g. In
ord
er to
max
imis
e sm
all s
awlo
g re
cove
ry,
shor
t len
gths
of 2
.5 m
wou
ld n
eed
to b
e re
cove
red,
with
the
mat
eria
l mov
ed q
uick
ly o
ff-si
te fo
llow
ing
harv
est a
nd p
roce
ssed
. R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
10C
oillt
e to
offe
r for
pub
lic
sale
gro
ups
of s
ites
with
woo
d m
obili
satio
n co
nstra
ints
rela
ted
to
acce
ss a
nd/o
r har
vest
, or
with
env
ironm
enta
l or o
ther
co
nstra
ints
, in
partn
ersh
ip
with
inte
rest
ed p
artie
s so
as
to fa
cilit
ate
capi
tal
inve
stm
ent a
nd p
ayba
ck.
This
to in
clud
e w
ork
that
co
uld
exte
nd o
ver a
num
ber
of y
ears
(Prio
rity
1).
Nea
r com
plet
ion
Coi
llte
Q4
2018
Coi
llte
reas
sess
ed it
s C
hron
ic A
cces
s B
lock
s (C
AB
) for
ests
(1
5,30
0ha)
in 2
016;
ove
r 600
0ha
of w
hich
wer
e de
emed
to
have
pot
entia
l fut
ure
timbe
r pro
duct
ion
and
will
be
incl
uded
in
its
2018
gen
eral
sal
es o
ffer.
This
are
a w
ill a
lso
be in
clud
ed
in th
e C
oillt
e fo
reca
st. O
f the
rem
aini
ng C
AB
are
as, s
ome
2000
ha a
re b
eing
ass
esse
d fo
r alte
rnat
ive
uses
. In
addi
tion,
so
me
of th
ese
area
s w
ill b
e of
fere
d as
sta
ndin
g sa
les
to lo
cal
saw
mill
s.
21
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
11In
the
cont
ext o
f co
nstra
ined
sup
ply
and
high
fibr
e pr
ices
, Coi
llte
and
the
proc
essi
ng s
ecto
r to
wor
k to
geth
er to
inve
stig
ate
the
pote
ntia
l of e
xplo
iting
lo
dgep
ole
pine
sta
nds
for
smal
l saw
log-
size
d m
ater
ial
(Prio
rity
2).
In p
rogr
ess
Coi
llte
Q4
2017
Just
10%
of p
ine
saw
log
offe
red
for s
ale
thro
ugh
auct
ion
or
annu
al c
ontra
ct in
201
6 w
as s
old,
alth
ough
the
qual
ity o
f th
is ti
mbe
r is
gene
rally
ver
y po
or. E
fforts
are
now
focu
ssed
on
impr
ovin
g pu
lpw
ood
supp
ly in
wes
t Con
naug
ht a
nd
deve
lopi
ng lo
cal w
ood
ener
gy-b
ased
dem
and,
driv
en b
y th
e ne
w S
uppo
rt S
chem
e fo
r Ren
ewab
le H
eat.
It is
est
imat
ed
that
20-
25%
of t
he p
ine
reso
urce
cou
ld b
e vi
ably
har
vest
ed
as re
sult
of th
e sc
hem
e.
22
Road investment, timber haulage and transport technologyThe All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast foresees a near doubling of harvest over the period up to 2035, to 7.86 million m3, with almost all of the increase forecast to come from the private sector in the RoI, and primarily in the larger sized assortments. Investment will be required to maintain and upgrade the county road infrastructure to bring the forecasted production to market. Close engagement is required between relevant Local Authorities and all the elements of the forest sector, including DAFM (Forest Service), processors, Coillte, forest owner groups and forestry companies, to mobilise production potential. The Forest Industry Transport Group (FITG) fulfils a necessary role in enabling interaction between the forest sector and the regulatory authorities regarding roundwood transport. However, there also needs to be sustained and formal engagement between DAFM and Local Authorities on potential future levels of harvest to develop the national regulatory system and infrastructure investment, principally in roads. Engagement should include providing GIS-based information on the location of all forest areas, as well as county-level forecasts of wood production, as they become available from the national roundwood production forecast. This work should enable better planning, and support the case to central government for greater investment in county road infrastructure Coillte has been engaged for a number of years with Local Authorities in the development and implementation of agreed haulage routes. These are designed to avoid and reduce the risk of road damage. Practice in Northern Ireland has not been to agree/designate routes but to recommend certain routes. The Forest Industry Transport Group (FITG) publication Managing Timber Transport - Good Practice Guide proposes four categories of routes ranging from unrestricted to excluded (“routes currently unsuitable for timber haulage vehicles, unless substantial engineering works are carried out”). The level of private forest establishment over the past three decades and the consequent increase in the level of harvesting bring the issue of recommending/designating haulage routes into sharper focus. Since 1980 over 29,000 plantations have been established in the private sector by 22,000 individuals, with an average size of 8.8 ha. The size and dispersed nature of these areas presents logistical and economic challenges in mobilising supply. The CWMPFG has considered the concept of designated roundwood haulage routes in depth, particularly in relation to the private sector forest resource. While it may have some merit, how it could be applied to private sector forests, given their dispersed nature and relatively small size is open to question. Nevertheless, the Group is supportive of the pilot scale work of the MARTT project1 on preferred routes. Involvement and buy-in from grower organisations in any future development of this work is essential.
1 Some proposed timber access routes were generated in the MARTT project, a DAFM funded project. MARTT was tasked with developing a digital map that would route timber trucks from forest compartment to the destination mill (or biomass plant) in a safer, sustainable and more fuel-efficient manner. While the project was useful it lacked sufficient road characterisation data to develop a comprehensive proposal on preferred routes. See main text for further elaboration. https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/research/cofordprogramme/finalreports/7FinalReportMARTT070917.pdf
23
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
9D
AFM
to p
rovi
de G
IS-b
ased
in
form
atio
n on
fore
st lo
catio
n as
wel
l as
fore
cast
s of
po
tent
ial w
ood
prod
uctio
n at
a
coun
ty le
vel t
o re
leva
nt L
ocal
A
utho
ritie
s on
5-y
ear c
ycle
, an
d to
wor
k in
par
tner
ship
w
ith th
e lo
cal g
over
nmen
t and
ce
ntra
l gov
ernm
ent s
yste
ms
on ta
rget
ing
inve
stm
ent i
n th
e co
unty
road
sys
tem
(Prio
rity
2).
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FM, R
oads
M
anag
emen
t Offi
ce
& L
ocal
Gov
ernm
ent
Man
agem
ent A
genc
y,
FITG
Ong
oing
As
outli
ned
unde
r Rec
omm
enda
tion
2, a
web
bas
ed
GIS
por
tal i
s av
aila
ble
to g
ener
ate
besp
oke
fore
cast
s co
verin
g th
e pe
riod
2016
-203
5.D
AFM
, with
inpu
t fro
m th
e fo
rest
indu
stry
& th
e Fo
rest
In
dust
ry T
rans
port
Gro
up, t
o ex
plor
e sy
nerg
ies
with
re
gard
to fo
reca
st d
ata
and
loca
l roa
ds c
over
age
with
th
e R
oads
Man
agem
ent O
ffice
& L
ocal
Gov
ernm
ent
Man
agem
ent A
genc
y (s
ee R
ecom
men
datio
n 12
b).
The
onlin
e Fo
reca
st G
IS p
orta
l, al
ong
with
the
MA
RTT
pro
ject
, will
pro
vide
a c
onsu
ltativ
e pl
atfo
rm fo
r di
scus
sion
s on
targ
etin
g in
vest
men
t in
the
coun
ty ro
ad
syst
em b
etw
een
the
fore
stry
sec
tor,
cent
ral g
over
nmen
t an
d Lo
cal A
utho
ritie
s. s
yste
m.
24
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
12a
(new
)Ta
king
into
acc
ount
the
findi
ngs
of th
e M
AR
TT p
roje
ct to
dat
e,
the
FITG
and
its
stak
ehol
ders
, in
clud
ing
Loca
l Aut
horit
ies,
to
con
tinue
stru
ctur
ed a
nd
prio
ritis
ed w
ork
to e
nabl
e ta
rget
ed a
nd in
crea
sed
inve
stm
ent i
n th
e m
aint
enan
ce
and
upgr
adin
g of
the
coun
ty
road
infra
stru
ctur
e in
are
as
of in
crea
sing
har
vest
ing;
id
entifi
able
usi
ng th
e D
AFM
ro
undw
ood
prod
uctio
n fo
reca
st to
ol, t
o en
able
woo
d m
obili
satio
n fro
m p
rivat
e se
ctor
an
d pu
blic
fore
sts.
The
FIT
G
initi
ativ
e to
be
supp
orte
d an
d gu
ided
by
the
fore
st in
dust
ry
(Prio
rity
1).
In p
rogr
ess
Fore
st In
dust
ry a
nd
Tran
spor
t Gro
up, D
AFM
, Lo
cal A
utho
ritie
s, F
ITG
Ong
oing
The
curr
ent F
ITG
pro
cess
of e
ngag
emen
t with
the
Loca
l Aut
horit
ies
is e
ssen
tial t
o pr
ovid
e th
e co
unty
ro
ad in
frast
ruct
ure
need
ed fo
r woo
d m
obili
satio
n. T
his
is in
the
cont
ext o
f nat
iona
l for
est p
olic
y to
mob
ilise
ro
undw
ood
for p
roce
ssin
g an
d th
e co
nseq
uent
nee
d fo
r co
unty
road
inve
stm
ent.
The
CW
MP
FG v
iew
is th
at th
e en
gage
men
t nee
ds
to b
e on
a lo
ng-te
rm, p
riorit
ised
and
stru
ctur
ed b
asis
us
ing
tool
s su
ch a
s th
e D
AFM
roun
dwoo
d pr
oduc
tion
fore
cast
vie
wer
and
the
MA
RTT
pro
ject
find
ings
, as
part
of a
pac
kage
to p
rovi
de th
e in
vest
men
t and
tech
nica
l gu
idan
ce to
add
ress
woo
d m
obili
satio
n ch
alle
nges
.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
12b
(new
)W
ork
with
the
road
s ar
ea o
f D
TTA
S a
nd L
ocal
Aut
horit
ies
to
prov
ide
the
data
nec
essa
ry fo
r co
mpl
etio
n of
pro
pose
d tim
ber
acce
ss ro
utes
in a
ccor
danc
e w
ith re
com
men
datio
ns o
f the
M
AR
TT p
roje
ct. E
nsur
e M
AR
TT
proj
ect c
ross
link
age
with
DA
FM
roun
dwoo
d pr
oduc
tion
fore
cast
to
ol (P
riorit
y 1)
.
In p
rogr
ess
Roa
ds M
anag
emen
t O
ffice
of t
he D
ept o
f Tr
ansp
ort,
Tour
ism
and
S
port,
Loc
al G
over
nmen
t M
anag
emen
t Age
ncy
of th
e D
ept.
of H
ousi
ng,
Pla
nnin
g, C
omm
unity
an
d Lo
cal G
over
nmen
t, D
AFM
, FIT
G
Not
ava
ilabl
eC
ompl
etin
g th
e pr
opos
ed ti
mbe
r acc
ess
rout
es c
an
prov
ide
the
plat
form
for a
gree
d ro
utes
con
sulta
tion
with
Loc
al A
utho
ritie
s. E
ngag
emen
t with
the
Loca
l G
over
nmen
t Man
agem
ent A
genc
y an
d th
e R
oads
M
anag
emen
t Offi
ce is
requ
ired
to a
sses
s th
e ex
tent
of
loca
l roa
ds c
over
age
to e
nabl
e an
exa
min
atio
n of
pr
opos
ed a
cces
s ro
utes
.
25
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
13
The
inap
prop
riate
use
of w
eigh
t re
stric
tions
on
road
s ne
eds
to
be a
ddre
ssed
at a
stra
tegi
c le
vel (
Prio
rity
1).
To b
e in
itiat
edFo
rest
Indu
stry
and
Tr
ansp
ort G
roup
, DA
FM,
Loca
l Gov
ernm
ent
Man
agem
ent A
genc
y
Not
ava
ilabl
eH
igh-
leve
l mee
tings
bet
wee
n th
e D
AFM
, for
est i
ndus
try
and
Loca
l Gov
ernm
ent M
anag
emen
t Age
ncy
are
requ
ired
to e
nsur
e th
at u
nnec
essa
ry w
eigh
t res
trict
ions
on
road
s ot
her t
han
rest
ricte
d ro
utes
or e
xclu
ded
rout
es is
dis
cont
inue
d. R
ecom
men
datio
n to
be
revi
site
d fo
llow
ing
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
cons
ent s
yste
m fo
r fo
rest
ent
ranc
es.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
14Th
e de
ploy
men
t of v
aria
ble
tyre
pre
ssur
e sy
stem
s (V
TP)
on ti
mbe
r hau
lage
truc
ks in
ar
eas
that
are
sev
erel
y af
fect
ed
by th
e st
reng
th o
f loc
al p
ublic
ro
ad in
frast
ruct
ure
shou
ld b
e en
cour
aged
by
the
haul
age
sect
or a
nd s
take
hold
ers
and
supp
orte
d th
roug
h gr
ant-a
id
whe
re a
ppro
pria
te (P
riorit
y 3)
.
n pr
ogre
ssC
oillt
e, D
AFM
, FIT
G,
Fore
st in
dust
ryO
ngoi
ngD
AFM
VTP
gra
nt s
chem
e no
w in
pla
ce. C
oillt
e to
in
form
300
+ ha
ulie
rs o
f sch
eme.
Sch
eme
prov
ides
40%
fu
ndin
g up
to a
max
imum
of €
10,0
00 p
er tr
uck.
Cer
tain
ag
reed
rout
es c
ould
be
assi
gned
for V
TP p
urpo
ses
in
cons
ulta
tive
mee
tings
. It i
s es
timat
ed th
at V
TP o
n 30
%
of th
e ha
ulag
e fle
et w
ould
ens
ure
adeq
uate
cov
erag
e na
tiona
lly.
26
Clu
ster
5: I
nfor
mat
ion
and
advi
ce re
leva
nt to
priv
ate
woo
dlan
d ow
ners
and
oth
ers
on w
ood
mob
ilisa
tion,
taxa
tion
Fore
st o
wne
r gro
ups
have
an
impo
rtant
role
to p
lay
in w
ood
mob
ilisa
tion
and
whi
le s
uppo
rt is
ava
ilabl
e un
der t
he F
ores
try P
rogr
amm
e to
est
ablis
h ne
w g
roup
s, u
nder
cur
rent
SA
rule
s du
e to
cha
nge,
Cur
rent
CA
P dr
aft a
ppea
rs to
allo
w fo
r dire
ct s
uppo
rt to
pro
duce
r gro
ups.
Sta
te a
id ru
les
fund
ing
cann
ot b
e pr
ovid
ed to
gro
ups
that
alre
ady
exis
t. Th
e C
WM
PFG
sup
ports
mea
sure
s th
at h
elp
grow
exi
stin
g fo
rest
ow
ner
grou
ps a
nd a
lso
thos
e ac
tiviti
es th
at c
reat
e ne
w o
ppor
tuni
ties
for f
ores
t ow
ners
to m
ake
cont
act w
ith th
e pr
ofes
sion
al fo
rest
ry e
stab
lishm
ent.
Thes
e op
portu
nitie
s in
clud
e kn
owle
dge
trans
fer g
roup
s an
d ce
rtific
atio
n gr
oups
, whi
ch c
ompl
emen
t exi
stin
g kn
owle
dge
trans
fer a
ctio
ns p
rovi
de b
y Te
agas
c, IT
GA
and
othe
rs.
In th
is w
ay, a
gre
ater
num
ber o
f for
est o
wne
rs w
ill b
egin
to s
ee th
eir f
ores
ts a
s a
valu
able
ass
et th
at w
ill p
rovi
de in
com
e an
d ap
prec
iate
in v
alue
if
prop
erly
man
aged
. R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
15K
now
ledg
e tra
nsfe
r gro
ups
(KTG
) to
be s
et u
p as
par
t of
Pro
duce
r Gro
ups
in
orde
r to
deve
lop
effic
ient
an
d co
st-e
ffect
ive
syst
ems
(Prio
rity
3).
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FMQ
4 20
20Fo
llow
ing
the
succ
essf
ul p
ilot s
chem
e D
AFM
has
laun
ched
a
new
sch
eme
to e
stab
lish
Kno
wle
dge
Tran
sfer
Gro
ups
(KTG
s)
for f
ores
try in
Aug
ust 2
018.
Kno
wle
dge
trans
fer g
roup
s ar
e w
ell
esta
blis
hed
in o
ther
sec
tors
and
they
are
a p
rove
n m
etho
d of
sh
arin
g be
st p
ract
ice
amon
gst p
artic
ipan
ts.
A K
TG s
chem
e fo
r for
estry
was
laun
ched
by
the
min
iste
r in
Aug
ust 2
018.
The
re n
eeds
to a
con
tinuo
us fo
cus
in th
e K
TGs
on th
e ob
ject
ive
of h
avin
g a
botto
m u
p ap
proa
ch w
here
by
fore
st o
wne
rs d
ecid
e on
the
topi
cs to
be
cove
red
to a
ddre
ss
thei
r tra
inin
g ne
eds.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
16G
rant
aid
sup
port
for
fore
st p
rodu
cer g
roup
s an
d N
atio
nal G
row
er
Org
anis
atio
ns to
be
cons
ider
ed u
nder
the
new
fo
rest
ry p
rogr
amm
e, 2
014-
20 (P
riorit
y 2)
.
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FMQ
4 20
20A
mea
sure
is in
pla
ce in
the
Fore
stry
Pro
gram
me
2014
–202
0 to
he
lp e
stab
lish
new
gro
ups
(see
Rec
omm
enda
tion
19).
The
mid
-te
rm re
view
of t
he F
ores
try P
rogr
amm
e in
clud
es s
uppo
rt fo
r th
e sc
enar
io w
here
by e
xist
ing
grou
ps w
ish
to m
erge
. Eur
opea
n C
omm
issi
on S
tate
aid
rule
s do
not
allo
w fo
r the
fund
ing
of
exis
ting
grou
ps.
27
Volu
ntar
y fo
rest
cer
tifica
tion
for p
rivat
e fo
rest
ow
ners
Few
priv
atel
y ow
ned
fore
sts
are
certi
fied
unde
r the
For
est S
tew
ards
hip
Cou
ncil (
FSC
) or t
he P
rogr
amm
e fo
r the
End
orse
men
t of F
ores
t Cer
tifica
tion
(PE
FC).
The
priv
ate
fore
st a
rea
certi
fied
is e
stim
ated
to b
e le
ss th
an 6
,000
ha.
As
the
leve
l of s
uppl
y fro
m th
e pr
ivat
e se
ctor
incr
ease
s, th
e la
ck
of c
ertifi
catio
n is
like
ly to
bec
ome
a ba
rrie
r to
woo
d m
obili
satio
n. T
he p
erce
ived
com
plex
ity a
nd c
ost o
f vol
unta
ry fo
rest
cer
tifica
tion
are
parti
cula
r is
sues
for p
rivat
e fo
rest
ow
ners
. The
se is
sues
hav
e be
en a
ddre
ssed
in th
e D
epar
tmen
t’s fo
rest
cer
tifica
tion
proj
ect w
here
two
certi
ficat
ion
grou
ps
have
bee
n es
tabl
ishe
d. A
new
fore
st m
anag
emen
t and
cer
tifica
tion
sche
me
has
been
app
rove
d as
par
t of t
he m
idte
rm re
view
. Thi
s ne
w s
chem
e w
hich
will
pro
vide
ong
oing
sup
port
for
priv
ate
fore
st o
wne
rs w
ishi
ng to
sec
ure
fore
st c
ertifi
catio
n fo
r th
eir
woo
dlan
ds. I
n ad
ditio
n, s
peci
ficat
ions
ar
e al
read
y in
pla
ce to
inco
rpor
ate
the
CO
FOR
D fo
rest
man
agem
ent p
lan
inco
rpor
atin
g ce
rtific
atio
n up
date
s in
to th
e D
epar
tmen
t’s G
ener
ic L
and
Man
agem
ent S
yste
m.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
26D
AFM
to im
plem
ent t
he
findi
ngs
of th
e C
OFO
RD
For
est
Man
agem
ent P
lann
ing
Gro
up,
and
in p
artic
ular
thos
e re
late
d to
faci
litat
ing
volu
ntar
y fo
rest
ce
rtific
atio
n (P
riorit
y 2)
.
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FMQ
4 20
25U
nder
the
com
plet
ed D
AFM
cer
tifica
tion
proj
ect,
a te
mpl
ate
and
deliv
ery
syst
em fo
r vol
unta
ry F
SC
cer
tifica
tion
has
been
dev
elop
ed. T
wo
regi
onal
ly b
ased
cer
tifica
tion
grou
ps
have
bee
n es
tabl
ishe
d as
par
t of t
his
proj
ect.
The
aim
is
to s
et u
p a
grou
p ce
rtific
atio
n st
ruct
ure
so th
at c
ertifi
catio
n co
sts
can
be s
hare
d am
ongs
t mem
bers
. The
obj
ectiv
e is
to
have
1,0
00 m
embe
rs p
artic
ipat
ing
in e
ach
grou
p by
202
5.P
rodu
cer g
roup
s ar
e im
porta
nt fo
r a s
ucce
ssfu
l fut
ure
certi
ficat
ion
sche
me.
Any
fore
st o
wne
r can
join
the
two
new
ce
rtific
atio
n gr
oups
as
part
of th
e pi
lot p
roje
ct.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
20D
AFM
to p
erio
dica
lly re
view
and
re
port
on th
inni
ng c
ontro
l, an
d th
e le
vel a
nd q
ualit
y of
thin
ning
in
pla
ntat
ions
(Prio
rity
2).
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FMTo
be
initi
ated
Q1
2018
DA
FM h
as a
cqui
red
addi
tiona
l sta
ff re
sour
ces
to e
nabl
e th
is
wor
k to
be
carr
ied
out.
28
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
19 (r
evis
ed)
DA
FM t
o gi
ve c
onsi
dera
tion
to li
nkin
g th
e re
quire
men
t for
a
man
agem
ent p
lan
in g
rant
aid
ed
fore
sts
to a
ttend
ance
by
the
fore
st o
wne
r at a
day
cou
rse
on
the
obje
ctiv
es a
nd u
se o
f for
est
man
agem
ent p
lan
(Prio
rity
3).
Not
impl
emen
ted
DA
FMTo
be
cons
ider
ed in
20
18Th
e G
roup
’s re
flect
ion
on th
is re
com
men
datio
n is
that
if
impl
emen
ted
it co
uld
pote
ntia
lly a
ct a
s a
barr
ier t
o pa
rtici
patio
n in
the
affo
rest
atio
n sc
hem
e. F
ores
try K
TGs
now
in o
pera
tion
with
DA
FM (F
ores
t Ser
vice
) fun
ding
(s
ee R
ecom
men
datio
n 15
) are
see
n as
a b
ette
r way
to
tran
sfer
info
rmat
ion
to p
rivat
e fo
rest
ow
ners
. As
the
DA
FM (F
ores
t Ser
vice
) will
con
tinue
to e
ncou
rage
fore
st
owne
rs to
dev
elop
thei
r kno
wle
dge
and
skill
s ba
se th
roug
h en
gage
men
t in
know
ledg
e tra
nsfe
r eve
nts
bein
g or
gani
sed
by T
eaga
sc a
nd th
e fo
rest
indu
stry
. A
furth
er p
ossi
ble
mea
sure
wou
ld b
e to
pro
vide
fore
st
owne
rs a
cces
s to
trai
ning
cou
rses
on
the
obje
ctiv
es a
nd
use
of fo
rest
man
agem
ent p
lans
as
they
bec
ome
due
for p
rem
ium
pay
men
t pur
pose
s. F
ores
t KTG
s co
uld
also
in
clud
e sp
ecifi
c m
odul
es o
n fo
rest
man
agem
ent p
lans
. C
onsi
dera
tion
shou
ld a
lso
be g
iven
to o
fferin
g th
e sa
me
or s
imila
r cou
rse
to a
ll ot
her f
ores
t ow
ners
who
are
co
nsid
erin
g su
bmitt
ing
a fo
rest
man
agem
ent p
lan
for t
he
first
tim
e, a
nd/o
r a fe
lling
lice
nce/
fore
st ro
ad a
pplic
atio
n.
Fore
st S
ervi
ce w
ill a
lso
prov
ide
train
ing
for r
egis
tere
d fo
rest
ers
whe
n th
e ne
w F
ores
t Man
agem
ent P
lan
onlin
e sy
stem
is la
unch
ed.
29
Man
agem
ent i
nter
vent
ions
A pr
opor
tion
of fo
rest
ow
ners
are
not
aw
are
of th
e ne
ed fo
r man
agem
ent i
nter
vent
ions
and
thei
r stro
ng im
pact
on
the
retu
rn o
n in
vest
men
t. Te
agas
c is
add
ress
ing
this
issu
e by
pro
vidi
ng a
wid
e ra
nge
of in
form
atio
n, a
rran
ging
one
-to-o
ne m
eetin
gs w
ith fo
rest
ow
ners
, as
wel
l as
fore
stry
pra
ctic
e fie
ld d
ays
and
wor
ksho
ps a
nd T
alki
ng T
imbe
r eve
nts.
The
Iris
h Ti
mbe
r Gro
wer
s A
ssoc
iatio
n, p
rivat
e fo
rest
ry c
ompa
nies
and
Coi
llte
are
also
act
ive
in th
is a
rea.
The
Tea
gasc
wor
k ne
eds
to c
ontin
ue, b
ut s
houl
d be
par
ticul
arly
targ
eted
at t
hose
ow
ners
who
hav
e no
t alre
ady
atte
nded
fiel
d da
ys o
r w
orks
hops
. Con
side
ratio
n al
so n
eeds
to b
e gi
ven
to e
ngag
ing
with
the
sign
ifica
nt a
mou
nt o
f non
-farm
ers
(e.g
. thr
ough
retir
emen
t, in
herit
ance
, sal
e/pu
rcha
se) w
ho a
re fo
rest
ow
ners
.R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
17Te
agas
c to
con
tinue
to p
rovi
de
fore
stry
pra
ctic
e in
form
atio
n an
d ad
vice
to th
e pr
ivat
e fo
rest
se
ctor
, inc
ludi
ng p
rodu
cer
grou
ps (P
riorit
y 1)
.
In p
rogr
ess
Teag
asc
Ong
oing
Teag
asc
is in
volv
ed in
ext
ensi
ve p
rom
otio
nal &
sup
port
wor
k, p
rimar
ily s
eeki
ng th
e ex
pans
ion
and
deve
lopm
ent o
f th
e fa
rm fo
rest
ry s
ecto
r in
Irela
nd. I
n te
rms
of fo
rest
ow
ner
grou
ps, 1
9 gr
oups
are
now
in o
pera
tion
with
960
mem
bers
. Te
agas
c is
pro
vidi
ng a
wid
e ra
nge
of in
form
atio
n in
clud
ing;
ar
rang
ing
one-
to-o
ne m
eetin
gs w
ith fo
rest
ow
ners
, as
wel
l as
fore
stry
pra
ctic
e fie
ld d
ays
and
wor
ksho
ps a
nd T
alki
ng
Tim
ber e
vent
s.In
201
8 fu
ndin
g fo
r Tea
gasc
’s th
ree
year
affo
rest
atio
n pr
omot
iona
l cam
paig
n w
as a
ppro
ved
by D
AFM
(For
est
Ser
vice
). Th
e fu
ll in
volv
emen
t of a
ll in
dust
ry s
take
hold
ers
is
cruc
ial t
o m
axim
ise
the
impa
ct o
f thi
s ca
mpa
ign.
30
Rou
ndw
ood
asso
rtm
ent p
rice
info
rmat
ion
The
CW
MP
FG v
iew
is th
at s
ome
fore
st o
wne
rs a
re u
naw
are
of p
rice
leve
ls fo
r rou
ndw
ood
in g
ener
al a
nd fo
r diff
eren
t ass
ortm
ents
, and
that
this
ac
ts a
s a
barr
ier t
o sa
les
and
woo
d m
obili
satio
n. T
he g
roup
is a
war
e th
at th
e Iri
sh T
imbe
r Gro
wer
s A
ssoc
iatio
n, T
eaga
sc a
nd th
e Fo
rest
Ser
vice
ar
e ac
tivel
y ad
dres
sing
this
issu
e th
roug
h in
form
atio
n da
ys a
nd th
e pr
ovis
ion
of in
form
atio
n on
pric
es a
nd re
late
d m
atte
rs. T
he g
roup
wel
com
es
the
adve
nt o
f the
pub
licly
ava
ilabl
e W
ood
Pric
e Q
uarte
rly w
hich
enh
ance
s th
e av
aila
bilit
y of
up-
to-d
ate
and
accu
rate
info
rmat
ion
on r
ound
woo
d as
sortm
ent a
nd p
rodu
ct p
rices
at n
atio
nal r
egio
nal l
evel
as
an a
id to
woo
d m
obili
satio
n.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
18Ta
king
into
acc
ount
the
ITG
A P
rivat
e R
ound
woo
d P
rice
data
base
an
inde
pend
ent n
atio
nal
roun
dwoo
d an
d pr
oduc
t as
sortm
ent p
rice
info
rmat
ion
syst
em to
be
exp
lore
d by
Tea
gasc
, fa
rmer
and
gro
wer
gro
ups,
C
oillt
e, th
e Iri
sh T
imbe
r C
ounc
il (IT
C) a
nd th
e Fo
rest
Ser
vice
. The
sys
tem
to
pro
vide
info
rmat
ion
on
both
sta
ndin
g an
d ro
adsi
de
pric
es a
nd p
refe
rabl
y to
ha
ve a
regi
onal
bas
is
(Prio
rity
1).
In p
rogr
ess
ITG
A, I
FA, D
AFM
Coi
llte,
Te
agas
c, IT
C
Ong
oing
Dis
cuss
ions
faci
litat
ed b
y D
AFM
ove
r the
per
iod
imm
edia
tely
follo
win
g th
e pu
blic
atio
n of
the
mob
ilisa
tion
repo
rt fa
iled
to re
ach
cons
ensu
s on
a s
ingl
e in
depe
nden
t st
andi
ng ro
undw
ood
pric
e in
form
atio
n sy
stem
. In
the
inte
rim,
DA
FM h
as w
orke
d w
ith IT
GA
and
as a
resu
lt ha
ve a
n ex
pand
ed le
vel o
f pric
e in
form
atio
n, th
roug
h th
e re
cent
ly
esta
blis
hed
Woo
d P
rice
Qua
rterly
(WP
Q).
It is
now
ava
ilabl
e to
all
grow
ers,
the
fore
stry
med
ia a
nd th
e pu
blic
thro
ugh
the
ITG
A an
d C
OFO
RD
web
site
s. It
pro
vide
s qu
arte
rly p
rice
data
for s
tand
ing
sale
s in
the
publ
ic d
omai
n. T
he in
tent
ion
is
to fu
rther
dev
elop
the
WP
Q to
incl
ude
road
side
sal
es a
nd a
w
ider
rang
e of
ass
ortm
ents
. (h
ttp://
ww
w.it
ga.ie
/pub
lic/W
PQ
-pub
lic.a
sp)
The
IFA
also
pub
lishe
s a
timbe
r pric
e m
arke
t rep
ort,
in a
fa
rmer
frie
ndly
form
at, e
very
qua
rter b
ased
on
feed
back
fro
m fa
rmer
s, fo
rest
ow
ner g
roup
s, p
rivat
e fo
rest
com
pani
es
and
the
saw
mill
ing
sect
or. (
http
s://w
ww
.ifa.
ie/if
a-tim
ber-
pric
e-su
rvey
-sho
ws-
incr
ease
-acr
oss-
all-p
rodu
ct-ty
pes/
) D
AFM
will
con
tinue
to e
xplo
re th
e po
tent
ial t
o in
volv
e C
oillt
e an
d Te
agas
c an
d po
ssib
ly o
ther
par
ticip
ants
in p
rovi
ding
da
ta to
the
WP
Q.
31
Taxa
tion
trea
tmen
t of f
ores
t inc
ome
Sig
nific
ant p
rogr
ess
has
been
mad
e in
this
are
a w
ith th
e re
mov
al o
f for
estry
from
the
high
ear
ners
inco
me
rest
rictio
n. F
urth
er p
ropo
sals
with
rega
rd
to c
hang
es in
taxa
tion
that
affe
ct fo
rest
ry s
houl
d be
sub
mitt
ed in
the
cont
ext o
f a p
re b
udge
t sub
mis
sion
. In
addi
tion
to th
e su
bsta
ntia
l pos
itive
ch
ange
s to
the
taxa
tion
treat
men
t of f
ores
t inc
ome
outli
ned
in re
com
men
datio
ns 2
4 an
d 25
fore
st la
nd is
now
con
side
red
elig
ible
for B
usin
ess
Rel
ief
(Rev
enue
eB
rief N
o. 0
6/18
). Th
is re
duce
s th
e ta
xabl
e va
lue
of th
e bu
sine
ss p
rope
rty o
n w
hich
Cap
ital A
cqui
sitio
ns T
ax is
cal
cula
ted
by 9
0%, w
hich
w
ill a
dd to
the
attra
ctiv
enes
s of
fore
stry
as
an in
vest
men
t to
land
owne
rs in
fore
stry
. R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
24Fo
rest
inco
me
to b
e ex
clud
ed fr
om th
e H
igh
Ear
ner’s
inco
me
rest
rictio
n, a
nd th
e re
fere
nce
to S
.232
be
rem
oved
from
Sch
edul
e 25
B o
f the
Tax
es
Con
solid
ated
Act
(as
amen
ded)
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
edD
epar
tmen
t of
Fina
nce
(Bud
get
2016
)
In B
udge
t 201
6 fo
rest
ry w
as re
mov
ed fr
om th
e H
igh
Ear
ners
in
com
e re
stric
tion
alon
g w
ith th
e re
fere
nce
to S
.232
from
S
ched
ule
25B
of t
he T
axes
Con
solid
ated
Act
(as
amen
ded)
. C
lear
felli
ng is
now
exe
mpt
for t
ax p
urpo
ses.
Thi
s de
velo
pmen
t w
ill a
ssis
t in
enco
urag
ing
fore
st o
wne
rs to
act
ivel
y m
anag
e th
eir f
ores
ts a
nd w
ill p
ositi
vely
affe
ct w
ood
mob
ility
in b
oth
the
shor
t and
long
er te
rm.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
25Av
erag
ing
of in
com
e fo
r ta
xatio
n pu
rpos
es, a
lread
y av
aila
ble
to fa
rmer
s fo
r cer
tain
agr
icul
tura
l ac
tiviti
es, t
o be
ext
ende
d to
fore
stry
, but
for a
long
er
timef
ram
e (P
riorit
y 1)
.
Com
plet
edD
epar
tmen
t of
Fina
nce
(Bud
get
2016
)
In B
udge
t 201
6 fo
rest
ry w
as re
mov
ed fr
om th
e H
igh
Ear
ners
in
com
e re
stric
tion
alon
g w
ith th
e re
fere
nce
to S
.232
from
S
ched
ule
25B
of t
he T
axes
Con
solid
ated
Act
(as
amen
ded)
. C
lear
felli
ng is
now
exe
mpt
for t
ax p
urpo
ses.
Thi
s de
velo
pmen
t w
ill a
ssis
t in
enco
urag
ing
fore
st o
wne
rs to
act
ivel
y m
anag
e th
eir w
oodl
ands
and
will
pos
itive
ly a
ffect
woo
d m
obili
ty in
bot
h th
e sh
ort a
nd lo
nger
term
.
32
Clu
ster
6: T
rain
ing
and
rese
arch
The
grou
p is
of
the
view
tha
t pr
ovis
ion
of a
wel
l-org
anis
ed a
nd s
truct
ured
tra
inin
g pr
ogra
mm
e fo
r ha
rves
ting
mac
hine
ope
rato
rs is
nee
ded
at
natio
nal l
evel
in o
rder
to s
uppo
rt hi
gh q
ualit
y th
inni
ng o
pera
tions
and
aid
in th
e m
obili
satio
n of
roun
dwoo
d.R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
21
Coi
llte
to in
vest
igat
e ho
w tr
aine
e m
achi
ne
oper
ator
s co
uld
wor
k on
C
oillt
e la
nds
in o
rder
to
qual
ify fo
r a C
ity &
Gui
lds
Land
Bas
ed S
ervi
ces
qual
ifica
tion
(Prio
rity
1).
Com
plet
edC
oillt
eM
ay 2
017
Coi
llte
has
agre
ed to
allo
w o
n th
eir l
ands
, and
free
of c
harg
e, in
sure
d th
ird p
arty
trai
ners
and
nov
ice
mac
hine
ope
rato
rs to
be
train
ed, i
n ch
ains
aw fe
lling
and
pro
cess
ing
larg
e tre
es a
nd w
indt
hrow
n w
ood
to C
ity &
Gui
lds/
NP
TC L
evel
3 s
tand
ard.
The
CW
MP
FG fu
rther
re
com
men
ds th
at T
eaga
sc B
ally
hais
e in
corp
orat
e th
e ab
ove
train
ing
qual
ifica
tions
in it
s tra
inin
g pr
ogra
mm
e to
rem
ove
the
cost
of t
he
cour
se to
trai
nees
and
/or t
heir
spon
sors
.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
22Te
agas
c to
est
ablis
h a
natio
nal f
ores
t har
vest
ing
oper
atio
n sk
ills
regi
ster
, fo
r exa
mpl
e Q
ualit
y an
d Q
ualifi
catio
ns Ir
elan
d (Q
QI)
and
City
& G
uild
s,
mak
e it
avai
labl
e an
d pr
omot
e its
use
in th
e se
ctor
, so
as to
ena
ble
skill
s to
be
mat
ched
to
parti
cula
r ope
ratio
ns
(Prio
rity
2).
In p
rogr
ess
Teag
asc
Und
erw
ayTe
agas
c to
und
erta
ke a
sco
ping
exe
rcis
e to
ass
ess
inte
rest
, con
cern
s,
oppo
rtuni
ties
and
appr
opria
te s
yste
ms
as a
n in
itial
ste
p in
est
ablis
hing
na
tiona
l for
est h
arve
stin
g op
erat
ion
skill
s re
gist
er, i
n co
nsul
tatio
n w
ith
the
Fore
st H
arve
stin
g Tr
aini
ng F
orum
(FH
TF).
Teag
asc
note
s th
at th
e ro
le o
f est
ablis
hing
and
mai
ntai
ning
a n
atio
nal f
ores
t har
vest
ing
skill
s re
gist
er m
ay b
e a
regu
lato
ry ta
sk fo
r a re
leva
nt a
utho
rity.
33
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
23Te
agas
c to
coo
rdin
ate
and
prom
ote
the
deve
lopm
ent
of n
atio
nal c
apac
ity to
tra
in a
nd c
ertif
y ha
rves
ting
mac
hine
ope
rato
rs in
m
achi
ne o
pera
tion
and
in g
ood
silv
icul
tura
l and
en
viro
nmen
tal p
ract
ices
(P
riorit
y 2)
.
In p
rogr
ess
Teag
asc
Fore
st
Har
vest
ing
Trai
ning
Fo
rum
(FH
TF)
Ong
oing
In 2
016
a fo
rest
har
vest
er a
nd fo
rwar
der s
imul
ator
was
fund
ed b
y D
AFM
as
part
of a
new
fore
st m
achi
ne o
pera
tor c
ours
e ba
sed
at
Bal
lyha
ise.
As
a di
rect
resu
lt of
indu
stry
invo
lvem
ent a
nd c
oope
ratio
n fo
ur c
andi
date
s co
mpl
eted
thei
r for
est m
achi
ne o
pera
tor w
orkp
lace
in
duct
ion
betw
een
Janu
ary
and
May
201
7, w
ith th
e in
tent
ion
of
cont
inui
ng o
n in
the
indu
stry
and
bec
omin
g ce
rtifie
d op
erat
ors.
Fu
rther
wor
k an
d co
oper
atio
n is
requ
ired
betw
een
the
parti
es in
volv
ed
to e
nsur
e th
at s
uffic
ient
acc
ess
is m
ade
avai
labl
e fo
r tra
inee
s to
m
achi
nes
and
harv
estin
g si
tes;
this
is e
ssen
tial i
n or
der f
or th
ese
train
ees
to g
ain
the
expe
rienc
e ne
cess
ary
to b
ecom
e op
erat
iona
l at
an e
cono
mic
leve
l. In
this
rega
rd fu
rther
sup
port
may
be
requ
ired
for
chai
nsaw
rain
ing
to C
ity &
Gui
lds/
NP
TC L
evel
3 s
tand
ard.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
32D
AFM
, Coi
llte,
Tea
gasc
an
d th
e fo
rest
sec
tor
at la
rge
to s
timul
ate
incr
ease
d in
tens
ity o
f ha
rves
ting
at th
inni
ng
and
clea
rfelli
ng s
tage
s th
roug
h th
e de
velo
pmen
t of
goo
d pr
actic
e gu
idan
ce,
diss
emin
atio
n of
rese
arch
fin
ding
s, a
nd in
crea
sing
th
e us
e of
full
tree
harv
estin
g (in
clud
ing
tops
and
bra
nche
s)
and
reco
very
of fi
nal
harv
estin
g re
sidu
es
(Prio
rity
2).
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FM, T
eaga
sc,
Coi
llte
& fo
rest
se
ctor
at l
arge
Ong
oing
Teag
asc
cont
inue
s to
pro
vide
and
dev
elop
bes
t for
estry
pra
ctic
e,
info
rmat
ion
and
advi
ce to
the
priv
ate
fore
st s
ecto
r, in
clud
ing
prod
ucer
gr
oups
to s
timul
ate
incr
ease
d in
tens
ity o
f har
vest
ing
at th
inni
ng
and
clea
rfelli
ng s
tage
s. T
he F
ores
t Ser
vice
, in
partn
ersh
ip w
ith th
e fo
rest
indu
stry
, has
dev
elop
ed a
n on
line
Felli
ng D
ecis
ion
Tool
alo
ng
with
an
onlin
e fo
reca
st to
ol (s
ee R
ecom
men
datio
ns 1
& 2
) to
help
st
imul
ate
incr
ease
d in
tens
ity o
f har
vest
ing
at th
inni
ng a
nd c
lear
felli
ng
stag
es a
nd is
an
exam
ple
of g
ood
diss
emin
atio
n w
ork
in th
is a
rea.
P
rom
otin
g aw
aren
ess
of b
oth
the
felli
ng d
ecis
ion
tool
and
fore
cast
ing
tool
is re
quire
d. R
esul
ts f
rom
the
SIM
WO
OD
pro
ject
, whi
ch a
ims
to
mob
ilise
fore
st o
wne
rs, p
rom
ote
colla
bora
tive
fore
st m
anag
emen
t an
d en
sure
sus
tain
able
fore
st fu
nctio
ns in
clud
ing
a sp
ecifi
c pi
lot
proj
ect o
n m
obili
sing
add
ition
al w
ood
fuel
from
firs
t thi
nnin
g; is
als
o be
ing
diss
emin
ated
to fo
rest
ow
ners
thro
ugh
indu
stry
-led
field
day
s.
In a
dditi
on th
e IF
A su
ppor
ted
by th
e D
AFM
(For
est S
ervi
ce) h
as
publ
ishe
d C
ut y
our t
imbe
r, no
t you
r pro
fits
– A
prac
tical
gui
de to
sel
ling
timbe
r (IF
A 20
16),
whi
ch g
ives
farm
ers
appr
oach
ing
harv
estin
g a
timbe
r sal
es c
heck
list.
34
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
40C
ontin
ue s
tate
and
priv
ate
inve
stm
ent i
n R
&D
and
de
mon
stra
tion
rela
ted
to th
inni
ng a
nd w
ood
mob
ilisa
tion
gene
rally
(P
riorit
y 1)
.
In p
rogr
ess
All
Isla
nd
Rou
ndw
ood
Pro
duct
ion
Fore
cast
ing
Gro
up
Ong
oing
The
Fore
st R
esea
rch
Irela
nd (F
OR
I) re
port
outli
nes
spec
ific
polic
y,
know
ledg
e an
d pr
oduc
tion
focu
sed
rese
arch
topi
cs a
nd id
eas
rele
vant
to
the
need
s of
fore
st s
take
hold
ers.
Thi
s pr
oces
s w
as in
itiat
ed b
y th
e C
OFO
RD
Cou
ncil
in 2
012
with
the
coop
erat
ion
of D
AFM
Res
earc
h &
Cod
ex D
ivis
ion
with
pub
lic a
nd s
take
hold
er c
onsu
ltatio
n. A
reas
of
parti
cula
r rel
evan
ce in
clud
e th
e de
velo
pmen
t of n
ew p
rodu
cts
from
w
ood
fibre
and
a G
IS-b
ased
Agr
eed
Rou
tes
Map
for S
usta
inab
le
Tim
ber T
rans
port
in Ir
elan
d (s
ubse
quen
tly fu
nded
as
the
MA
RTT
pr
ojec
t (D
evlin
201
4) s
ee re
com
men
datio
ns 9
, 12a
and
12b
.
35
Clu
ster
7: E
nviro
nmen
tal d
esig
natio
ns a
nd p
roce
dure
sE
nviro
nmen
tal d
esig
natio
ns a
nd p
roce
dure
s w
hich
are
lega
lly b
ased
mus
t be
com
plie
d w
ith b
y a
resp
onsi
ble
fore
st s
ecto
r. C
ompl
ianc
e re
quire
men
ts
can
vary
at a
loca
l lev
el a
nd th
ere
can
be d
elay
s in
resp
onse
s fro
m re
gula
tors
lead
ing
to in
effic
ienc
ies
and
adde
d co
sts
in h
arve
stin
g, a
s w
ell a
s re
duct
ions
in w
ood
mob
ilisa
tion.
In a
dditi
on, p
rope
r adv
ance
con
sulta
tion
is n
eede
d fo
r any
pro
pose
d ne
w re
gula
tions
.S
ince
the
publ
icat
ion
of th
e m
obili
satio
n re
port,
pro
gres
s ha
s be
en a
chie
ved
in s
ome
area
s. H
owev
er, t
he H
en H
arrie
r Th
reat
Res
pons
e P
lan
proc
ess
is ta
king
a c
onsi
dera
ble
time,
hav
ing
been
initi
ated
in 2
011.
The
fore
st s
ecto
r nee
ds to
eng
age
mor
e w
ith th
e re
leva
nt a
utho
ritie
s in
rela
tion
to a
eria
l fer
tilis
atio
n. In
add
ition
, bui
ldin
g aw
aren
ess
and
confi
denc
e in
Nat
iona
l reg
ulat
ion
and
envi
ronm
enta
l saf
egua
rds
at a
hig
h le
vel w
ith th
e re
leva
nt a
utho
ritie
s w
ill m
ake
any
revi
sion
of t
he re
ferr
al s
yste
m e
asie
r. Fo
llow
ing
on fr
om d
iscu
ssio
ns r
egar
ding
the
use
of a
Reg
ulat
ory
Impa
ct A
sses
smen
t (R
IA),
the
grou
p fe
lt th
e in
clus
ion
of a
n ec
onom
ic im
pact
as
sess
men
t in
the
Nat
ura
2000
des
igna
tion
proc
ess
wou
ld h
elp
addr
ess
conc
erns
in th
is a
rea.
Mor
e de
taile
d up
date
s on
pro
gres
s ar
e in
the
narr
ativ
es.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
27Th
e Th
reat
Res
pons
e P
lan
(TR
P) f
or th
e H
en H
arrie
r ne
eds
to b
e ad
vanc
ed a
nd
conc
lude
d by
the
Nat
iona
l P
arks
and
Wild
life
Ser
vice
(N
PW
S) t
o pr
ovid
e a
bala
nced
ap
proa
ch to
fore
st o
pera
tions
an
d ha
bita
t and
spe
cies
pr
otec
tion
(Prio
rity
2).
In p
rogr
ess
Nat
iona
l Par
ks
and
Wild
life
Ser
vice
(NP
WS
)
Not
ava
ilabl
eD
AFM
and
the
fore
st in
dust
ry h
ave
wor
ked
toge
ther
on
subm
issi
ons
rega
rdin
g th
e H
en H
arrie
r to
the
NP
WS
, loo
king
at
bes
t pra
ctic
e in
tern
atio
nally
and
wor
k by
the
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
For
est S
ervi
ce in
Slie
ve B
eagh
. How
ever
, the
TR
P is
taki
ng a
long
tim
e to
com
plet
e, h
avin
g be
en in
pro
cess
si
nce
2011
. It i
s cr
itica
l tha
t the
NP
WS
con
clud
e th
e TR
P as
soo
n as
pos
sibl
e, a
s th
e de
lay
is le
adin
g to
inef
ficie
ncie
s an
d ad
ded
cost
s in
har
vest
ing,
as
wel
l as
redu
ced
woo
d m
obili
satio
n.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
28Th
e sy
stem
for t
he a
ppro
val
of a
eria
l fer
tilis
atio
n of
fore
st
crop
s to
be
revi
ewed
by
DA
FM, s
o as
to s
uppo
rt lo
ng
term
woo
d pr
oduc
tion
goal
s an
d to
faci
litat
e w
ood
supp
ly
mob
ilisa
tion
(Prio
rity
2).
Com
plet
edD
AFM
June
201
5Th
e D
AFM
(For
est S
ervi
ce) p
ublis
hed
new
gui
delin
es
on A
eria
l fer
tilis
atio
n in
Jun
e 20
15, p
ost t
he m
obili
satio
n re
port
publ
icat
ion.
The
new
gui
delin
es e
ncou
rage
rolli
ng
prog
ram
mes
of a
eria
l fer
tilis
atio
n. T
he fo
rest
sec
tor n
eeds
to
enga
ge m
ore
with
the
rele
vant
aut
horit
ies
to a
gree
on
how
be
st to
faci
litat
e th
is o
pera
tion
and
to re
alis
e a
fulle
r val
ue o
f fo
rest
s, w
ithou
t adv
erse
ly im
pact
ing
on w
ater
qua
lity.
36
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
29Th
e re
ferr
al p
roce
dure
s be
twee
n Fo
rest
Ser
vice
, N
PW
S, L
ocal
Aut
horit
ies,
Fi
sher
ies
auth
oriti
es a
nd
othe
r des
igna
ted
bodi
es to
be
revi
ewed
and
reso
urce
s in
crea
sed
in o
rder
to m
inim
ise
dela
ys fr
om re
ferr
als.
Tim
e pe
riods
for p
roce
ssin
g ap
plic
atio
ns to
be
reco
rded
an
d re
porte
d (P
riorit
y 1)
.
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FM, N
PW
S, L
ocal
A
utho
ritie
s, F
ishe
ries
auth
oriti
es O
ther
de
sign
ated
refe
rral
bo
dies
.
Ong
oing
DA
FM re
cogn
ises
the
need
to e
ngag
e w
ith th
e re
leva
nt
bodi
es a
t a s
trate
gic
leve
l in
orde
r to
high
light
the
safe
guar
ds
that
are
bui
lt in
to fo
rest
regu
latio
n an
d pr
actic
e, a
nd h
avin
g do
ne s
o to
see
k w
ays
to s
tream
line
refe
rral
s an
d tim
elin
es.
This
is in
the
cont
ext o
f con
tinui
ng to
dev
elop
the
refe
rral
pr
oces
s so
that
it p
rovi
des
valu
e to
all
invo
lved
. Wor
k ha
s be
en d
one
with
the
NP
WS
in th
is re
gard
, inc
ludi
ng a
refe
rral
sc
reen
ing
proc
ess
with
the
DA
FM (F
ores
t Ser
vice
), w
hich
ha
s he
lped
to s
tream
line
appl
icat
ions
. A
key
step
nee
ded
befo
reha
nd is
to m
eet t
he v
ario
us b
odie
s an
d to
hig
hlig
ht th
e sa
fegu
ards
that
are
in p
lace
acr
oss
all
regu
late
d ac
tiviti
es. B
uild
ing
up fa
mili
arity
and
con
fiden
ce fi
rst
will
mak
e an
y re
visi
on o
f the
refe
rral
sys
tem
eas
ier.
Ther
e is
a re
ferr
al ti
mel
ine
stru
ctur
e in
pla
ce w
hich
lim
its th
e tim
e pe
riod
for r
efer
ral,
afte
r whi
ch th
e ap
plic
atio
n is
pro
cess
ed, i
f a
resp
onse
is n
ot fo
rthco
min
g.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
30P
ropo
sed
desi
gnat
ion
of
new
are
as o
r cha
nges
in
the
boun
darie
s of
exi
stin
g N
atur
a 20
00 s
ites
or o
ther
ar
eas
that
requ
ire re
ferr
al to
st
atut
ory
auth
oriti
es, a
nd n
ew
regu
latio
ns a
risin
g fro
m th
e ad
optio
n or
impl
emen
tatio
n of
nat
iona
l leg
isla
tion
to b
e su
bjec
t to
econ
omic
impa
ct
asse
ssm
ent i
n ac
cord
ance
w
ith R
egul
ator
y Im
pact
A
sses
smen
t (Pr
iorit
y 1)
.
Not
impl
emen
ted
DA
FMU
nava
ilabl
eD
AFM
sta
te th
at a
n R
IA is
mea
nt to
add
ress
the
pote
ntia
l im
pact
of p
ropo
sed
new
law
s an
d re
gula
tion
at a
nat
iona
l le
vel.
A R
IA d
oes
not r
evie
w th
e da
y-to
-day
app
licat
ion
of
thos
e ne
w la
ws
and
regu
latio
ns a
t a lo
cal l
evel
eve
ry ti
me
a po
licy
chan
ge is
requ
ired
afte
r the
y ha
ve b
een
enac
ted
and
com
men
ced.
As
such
, the
re is
no
need
for a
n R
IA w
hen
the
requ
isite
mea
sure
s ar
e ta
ken
to c
ompl
y w
ith e
xist
ing
law
s or
re
gula
tion
enac
ted
prio
r to
June
21s
t, 20
05.
This
reco
mm
enda
tion
has
been
revi
ewed
and
rew
orde
d to
cr
eate
a n
ew re
com
men
datio
n, 3
0a. N
PW
S to
car
ry o
ut o
r co
mm
issi
on a
prio
r eco
nom
ic a
sses
smen
t of a
ny p
ropo
sed
chan
ge to
fore
st la
nd d
esig
natio
n. T
his
will
giv
e ad
equa
te
and
fair
wei
ght t
o th
e ec
onom
ic im
plic
atio
ns o
f any
cha
nge
in
desi
gnat
ion.
37
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
30a
(new
)P
ropo
sed
desi
gnat
ion
of
new
are
as o
r cha
nges
in
the
boun
darie
s of
exi
stin
g N
atur
a 20
00 s
ites
or o
ther
ar
eas
that
requ
ire re
ferr
al to
st
atut
ory
auth
oriti
es, a
nd n
ew
regu
latio
ns a
risin
g fro
m th
e ad
optio
n or
impl
emen
tatio
n of
nat
iona
l leg
isla
tion
to b
e su
bjec
t to
econ
omic
impa
ct
asse
ssm
ent (
eia)
(Prio
rity
1).
To b
e in
itiat
edC
WM
PFG
Ong
oing
Follo
win
g on
from
dis
cuss
ions
rega
rdin
g th
e us
e of
a R
IA
abov
e in
Rec
omm
enda
tion
30, t
he g
roup
agr
eed
to s
eek
the
incl
usio
n of
an
econ
omic
impa
ct a
sses
smen
t (ei
a) a
s pa
rt of
the
desi
gnat
ion
proc
ess
for a
ny p
ropo
sed
chan
ges
to N
atur
a 20
00 s
ites
or o
ther
are
as. I
t is
prop
osed
that
the
NP
WS
wou
ld c
arry
out
the
eia,
as
the
body
resp
onsi
ble
for i
mpl
emen
ting
the
dire
ctiv
e. T
he in
clus
ion
of th
is n
ew
reco
mm
enda
tion
bette
r add
ress
es th
e co
ncer
ns o
f gro
up
mem
bers
rega
rdin
g th
e de
sign
atio
n pr
oces
s, w
hich
was
not
cl
ear i
n R
ecom
men
datio
n 30
.
Rig
hts-
of-w
ayR
estri
ctio
ns d
ue to
righ
t-of-w
ay (R
OW
) iss
ues
can
prev
ent w
ood
mob
ilisa
tion
– it
is a
ser
ious
issu
e in
cer
tain
inst
ance
s. S
peci
fic is
sues
in
clud
e: •
RO
W m
ay n
ot b
e ch
ecke
d w
hen
plan
ning
app
rova
l is
give
n re
sulti
ng in
bui
ldin
g on
the
RO
W•
Lack
of r
egis
tratio
n of
RO
Ws
(alth
ough
a p
roce
ss is
now
und
erw
ay th
at re
quire
s al
l RO
Ws
to b
e re
gist
ered
by
Dec
embe
r 202
1)•
Pla
cem
ent o
f bel
l-mou
th e
ntra
nces
.•
Nee
d fo
r an
inde
pend
ent a
rbite
r or d
ialo
gue
with
land
owne
rs o
r far
min
g gr
oups
to fa
cilit
ate
good
pra
ctic
e.R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
31Fa
rmer
gro
ups
and
fore
st o
wne
rs to
es
tabl
ish
a bi
ndin
g co
de
of p
ract
ice
rela
ted
to
right
s-of
-way
and
sha
red
road
s (P
riorit
y 2)
.
In p
rogr
ess
Irish
Far
mer
s A
ssoc
iatio
nU
nava
ilabl
eC
oillt
e an
d th
e IF
A ha
ve c
omm
ence
d w
ork
on d
evel
opin
g a
gene
ric
Sha
red
Acc
ess
Agr
eem
ent T
empl
ate
that
cou
ld b
e us
ed b
y an
y tw
o pa
rties
to e
stab
lish
a no
n-bi
ndin
g co
de o
f pra
ctic
e th
at fa
cilit
ates
on
e pa
rty u
sing
an
acce
ss ro
ute
owne
d by
the
othe
r par
ty to
ac
cess
thei
r for
est a
nd re
mov
e tim
ber.
38
Clu
ster
8: M
ediu
m te
rm p
olic
y ch
alle
nges
aris
ing
sinc
e pu
blic
atio
n of
Mob
ilisi
ng Ir
elan
d’s
Fore
st R
esou
rce
in 2
015
Two
addi
tiona
l rec
omm
enda
tions
hav
e be
en in
clud
ed to
focu
s on
the
chal
leng
es o
f Bre
xit f
or Ir
elan
d’s
expo
rt-fo
cuss
ed fo
rest
indu
stry
, and
how
the
fore
st s
ecto
r will
sit
in th
e po
st C
AP.
A
ccor
ding
to th
e Ti
mbe
r Ind
ustry
Bre
xit F
orum
, Bre
xit i
s th
e si
ngle
big
gest
cha
lleng
e fa
cing
the
Irish
fore
st in
dust
ry s
ince
the
cons
truct
ion
cras
h of
20
08. T
he ro
undw
ood
supp
ly ri
sk a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith B
rexi
t inc
lude
s po
ssib
le c
hang
es to
trad
e an
d lo
gist
ic a
rran
gem
ents
. Rev
ised
or t
rans
ition
Pla
nt
Hea
lth a
rran
gem
ents
cou
ld a
lso
have
a s
igni
fican
t im
pact
on
the
mov
emen
t of r
ound
woo
d in
to a
nd w
ithin
the
isla
nd o
f Ire
land
from
a p
ost B
rexi
t U
K. T
he im
plic
atio
ns o
f Bre
xit a
re e
xplo
red
in d
etai
l in
the
disc
ussi
on s
ectio
n.A
new
Com
mon
Agr
icul
tura
l Pol
icy
(CA
P) s
houl
d be
agr
eed
befo
re th
e en
d of
201
9. S
hortl
y af
ter t
he E
urop
ean
Com
mis
sion
is li
kely
to c
ircul
ate
new
dra
ft S
tate
aid
rul
es fo
r co
nsul
tatio
n w
ith in
stitu
tions
, pub
lic a
utho
ritie
s, o
rgan
isat
ions
, com
pani
es a
nd c
itize
ns. O
nce
agre
ed th
is p
olic
y w
ill
unde
rpin
Sta
te a
id ru
les
for t
he fo
rest
ry s
ecto
r, w
e m
ay n
ot b
e fu
nded
und
er S
A ru
les
next
tim
e ar
ound
. R
ecom
men
datio
nLe
vel o
f im
plem
enta
tion
Impl
emen
ting
body
Expe
cted
dat
e of
co
mpl
etio
nN
arra
tive
Rec
omm
enda
tion
41 (n
ew)
Ong
oing
act
ive
enga
gem
ent
by fo
rest
ry s
ecto
r st
akeh
olde
rs w
ith a
ll ke
y pr
oces
ses
initi
ated
at b
oth
indu
stry
and
gov
ernm
ent
leve
ls in
rela
tion
to A
rticl
e 50
(B
rexi
t) ne
gotia
tions
with
the
UK
(Prio
rity1
).
In p
rogr
ess
CW
MP
FGB
rexi
t is
sche
dule
d fo
r M
arch
29,
201
9.D
AFM
est
ablis
hed
a B
rexi
t Uni
t im
med
iate
ly a
fter t
he v
ote
to le
ave
was
ann
ounc
ed. T
his
Div
isio
n is
cen
tral t
o al
l Bre
xit
issu
es a
cros
s G
over
nmen
t. Th
e M
inis
ter f
or A
gric
ultu
re,
Food
and
the
Mar
ine
and
seni
or o
ffici
als
are
in re
gula
r co
ntac
t with
thei
r cou
nter
parts
in o
ther
Mem
ber S
tate
s,
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd, t
he U
K, t
he E
U C
omm
issi
on, o
ther
go
vern
men
t dep
artm
ents
, the
rele
vant
Sta
te a
genc
ies
and
the
vario
us s
take
hold
ers.
A c
onsu
ltativ
e co
mm
ittee
of
stak
ehol
ders
was
als
o es
tabl
ishe
d at
this
tim
e.Th
e D
epar
tmen
t is
parti
cipa
ting
fully
in th
e ne
w s
ecto
ral
wor
k gr
oups
est
ablis
hed
unde
r the
aus
pice
s of
the
Inte
rdep
artm
enta
l Gro
up o
n B
rexi
t.Th
e Ti
mbe
r Ind
ustry
Bre
xit F
orum
has
als
o so
ught
to u
nite
re
leva
nt c
ompa
nies
and
org
anis
atio
ns -n
orth
and
sou
th- t
o pr
ovid
e a
voic
e fo
r the
fore
st s
ecto
r on
the
isla
nd o
f Ire
land
in
Bre
xit n
egot
iatio
ns.
39
Rec
omm
enda
tion
Leve
l of i
mpl
emen
tatio
nIm
plem
entin
g bo
dyEx
pect
ed d
ate
of
com
plet
ion
Nar
rativ
e
Rec
omm
enda
tion
42(n
ew)
Irela
nd to
act
ivel
y en
gage
w
ith th
e E
urop
ean
Com
mis
sion
to e
nsur
e th
at
prov
isio
ns a
re in
pla
ce
to a
dequ
atel
y su
ppor
t a
wid
e ra
nge
of m
easu
res
incl
udin
g gr
ant a
id s
uppo
rt fo
r for
est r
oad
cons
truct
ion,
su
ppor
ts to
enh
ance
via
bilit
y of
loca
l woo
d m
arke
ts a
nd
expl
orat
ion
of th
e vi
abili
ty
of s
mal
l sca
le h
arve
stin
g m
achi
nery
sup
ports
(P
riorit
y 1)
.
In p
rogr
ess
DA
FMD
ecem
ber 2
019
Prio
r to
the
com
plet
ion
of th
e cu
rren
t For
estry
Pro
gram
me
in 2
020
the
Eur
opea
n C
omm
issi
on w
ill p
ublis
h its
CA
P R
egul
atio
ns. I
t is
esse
ntia
l tha
t Ire
land
act
ivel
y en
gage
with
th
e E
urop
ean
Com
mis
sion
to e
nsur
e th
at p
rovi
sion
s ar
e in
pl
ace
to a
dequ
atel
y su
ppor
t a w
ide
rang
e of
mea
sure
s.
40
41
Section 3
3.1 Synthesis of recommendation narratives and general discussion of wood mobilisation issuesThe challenges of wood mobilisation on the island of Ireland are set against a backdrop of an existing wood supply deficit, which is set to increase up to 2025.In 2016, 34% of the roundwood used in the Republic of Ireland was used for energy generation, mainly within the forest products sector. At a national level, the policy drivers on the renewables side are the National Mitigation Plan (DCCAE, 2017) and the EU renewable energy targets, and in particular the 12% target for renewable heat provision by 2020.Based on work undertaken by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the CWMPFG, the annual supply gap in energy wood in RoI by 2020 could be upwards of 1.4 million m3 by 2020, and 2 million cubic metres by 2025 (see Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025). In terms of the traditional forest sector industries, the prediction for sawlog supply on the island is to continue in deficit up to 2020, reaching over 0.7 million m3 per annum, or in round numbers, the annual intake of two large sawmills. After 2020, the sawlog supply/demand deficits are expected to ease, notwithstanding assumed further increases in sawlog demand, so that by 2025, the prediction is that an annual sawlog harvest of over four million cubic metres will be sufficient to meet demand on the island. In terms of the mobilisation challenge, considerable progress has been made since the 2015 report was launched including:
• the new All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035 and the associated GIS Portal,
• enhanced efficiencies in dealing with felling licence applications, • ongoing and enhanced forest road funding, • revision to the tax treatment of profits from forest ownership in Budget
2016,• roundwood price information being provided to the public domain, • knowledge transfer and forest certification group projects,• increased wood availability from formerly constrained areas in the Coillte
resource, and • an excellent programme of advice on woodland management and wood
sales from Teagasc aimed at all private growers.However, based on the narratives on the recommendations and further reflections by the CWMPFG significant short and medium term mobilisation challenges remain (see Table 1 and the text following the table).The wood supply deficit identified in Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025 is likely to substantially increase over the period up to 2025 and beyond, with wood energy demand being a key driver. Ensuring a balanced approach to the development of the island’s wood resource to best meet the needs of both the wood processing and energy sectors will be a key challenge. Imports of wood energy are likely to increase substantially and at the same time maximising the utilisation of indigenous wood sources will be critical. The most significant feature of the forecasted supply is that almost all of the increase will originate from privately owned forests in the RoI.
42
Table 1.Summary overview of current and future challenges to wood mobilisation.
Short-term challenges Medium-term challengesPublic road network investment BrexitRegulatory environment Voluntary forest certificationForest owners’ engagement in managing their forest
Felling licence system and forest management plansCommon Agricultural Policy – Post 2020Wood for energy
3.2 Short-term challenges to wood mobilisationInvestment in the public road networkOngoing investment and upgrading of the county road infrastructure is vital to enable wood mobilisation from private sector and public forests. Due to the dispersed nature and small average size of private forests upgrading of local roads is a particular priority. While the 91,000 km of regional and local roads, twice the European average, will always present a funding challenge, the current level of funding is not adequate to even maintain the network. These roads carry around 54% of all road traffic and are therefore very important to the Irish economy and society as a whole (DTTS 2017). Despite the Capital Plan 2016-2021 allocating €6 bn for roads, €4.4bn is to cover depreciation costs. While the 2018 regional and local roads allocation has increased to €417 m, up from €324 m in 2017; it is still 31% below the 2009 figure of €607 m. While the infrastructural deficits and bottlenecks on most main public roads have largely been addressed, it is clear that regional and local roads need substantially more investment over the coming decade. It is estimated that an annual allocation of €580 m is required just to maintain the present regional and local road network. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 (DPER 2018) launched in February 2018 falls short of this minimum, with an allocation of €4.5 bn over the 10 year period.
Regulatory environmentThe recommendation on the consent system for forest entrances was for DAFM to be the sole authority in this area. The lack of a single authority has, many believe, impacted on the wood mobilisation from private plantations. It has been estimated that for every 10 km of new forest road 20,000 m3 of roundwood can be harvested in first thinning. If the roads are not constructed the mobilisation rate will not reach the forecast, with knock on effects down the line. Commencement of the new single consent system is expected in the short term.
Forest owners’ engagement in managing their forestSince grant aided private sector afforestation rapidly expanded in the early 1980s almost 300,000 ha have been planted to the end of 2016. However, there is a concern that the actual potential supply available in the private sector will not reach the level envisaged in the All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035 due to the lack of engagement by a cohort of forest owners in managing their forest.In line with national policy and good forest practice, DAFM, Teagasc and public and private bodies are actively encouraging private forest owners to thin their forests in order to add value to State and owner investment, and for raw material supply to industry. Evidence to date is that levels of thinning in the private estate have been close to forecast, apart from a falloff in 2016 (see Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025). However, the forecast predicts a rapid expansion in private roundwood supply over the coming decade, and it is to this mobilisation challenge that many of the recommendations in the 2015 report were addressed. The performance, across the forest sector, in meeting the recommendations is monitored in this report. While the scorecard is generally favourable and levels of harvest are at overall record
43
levels, the challenge will become more onerous over the coming decade when private sector supply is forecast to increase more than threefold to reach 3.3 million m3 in 2027. It is necessary to point out that the roundwood forecast reports net realisable volume production. The assumption is that not all areas will be thinned – due to high costs of harvesting in certain instances, economies of scale and lack of knowledge.It is essential that the work initiated in discussion groups, knowledge transfer and forest certification groups be scaled up to bring in as many forest owners as possible. All industry stakeholders have an important role to play in this regard.
3.3 Medium term challenges to wood mobilisationBrexitAccording to the Timber Industry Brexit Forum (TIBF), Brexit is the single biggest challenge facing the Irish forest industry since the construction crash of 2008. Growers are at the start of the value chain in the wood market, with the processing sector the gateway to market. On the supply side, the risk associated with Brexit includes possible changes to trade and logistic arrangements which could restrict roundwood flow. In particular, any revision or transitional plant health arrangements could significantly impact the movement of roundwood into and within the island of Ireland from a post Brexit UK.In 2015 Ireland exported €332 m of wood and paper products to the UK representing 90.7% of all wood and paper products exports. Similarly, in 2015 Ireland exports of roundwood to Northern Ireland were worth €17.9 m, with roundwood imports from Northern Ireland worth €8.7 m. In effect there is an all-island market for roundwood. Large and small scale sawmills on either side of the border, and down to the Midlands Region, have established cross-border supply chains. Brexit has already had a significant impact on export profitability with sterling devaluing by 24% against the euro since November 2015. Apart from the immediate effects of exchange rates, there is a high level of uncertainty associated with the Brexit negotiations. Further threats to exports may emerge in the form of a UK recession, and the preferential entry of other large wood product producers coming into the UK market. After the UK leaves the EU, tariffs are unlikely to be a problem as timber is zero-rated by the World Trade Organization (WTO), unlike agri-goods, but non-tariff barriers could be extremely disruptive. If the average impact of new logistical costs and non-tariff barriers is 10% across all Irish industry, it could be double this figure for Irish timber (Business Achievers 2017). It has been stated that even under a best-case scenario the forest sector will suffer a loss of competitiveness, while in a worst-case scenario the industry could sustain major infrastructural damage (Teagasc 2017).The Brexit unit in DAFM is examining the impact of tariffs by sector by CN code using data from the European Commission Tariff and Customs database and export trade data from the Central Statistics Office (DAFM 2017). The analysis will allow an estimated tariff rate equivalent by CN code and the estimated cost of the tariff equivalent. The ESRI and Teagasc are also carrying out analysis of the impact of a possible WTO tariff implications.At the moment a relatively buoyant UK economy is driving volume consumption of Irish wood imports, coupled with a strong demand from the Irish construction industry, these factors have ameliorated the effect of the announcement of Brexit. The Irish forest sector is highly competitive, well organised and determined to meet the challenges of Brexit. However the UK is, in the short-term, the predominant market for the majority of output. Product and market diversification are not adequate solutions (IBEC 2017). In terms of an industry response the Timber Industry Brexit Forum is currently formulating a code of practice for cross-border movement of timber with all stakeholders in the
44
interest of wood and wood product suppliers and the UK consumer. The Irish Business and Employers Federation has also produced a number of guiding principles on Brexit that are applicable across all industries, including the forest and timber products sector (IBEC 2017a). At government level a new Cabinet Committee “C” on EU and Brexit has been formed, with the Department of Foreign Affairs coordinating the wider government response to Brexit. At ministerial level numerous formal bilateral meetings in European capitals have taken place to get the message out to member states and build alliances.The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has set up a Brexit and International Trade Division which meets regularly with a Brexit Consultative Committee to coordinate a response from the various industry sectors, including forestry, to Brexit. New groups within DAFM have been set up examining import controls/export certification, research activities, north-south cooperation, customs and UK landbridge issues. In addition DAFM has also had regular engagement with customs and revenue examining shared challenges, preparations needed and streamlining cooperation.
Voluntary forest certificationFew privately owned forests are currently certified under the voluntary Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The current market demand for a minimum percentage (70% for both sawnwood and panelboards) of certified material to comprise mill intake under FSC & PEFC is being mostly met due to the predominance of intake being from certified suppliers such as Coillte and Irish Forestry Unit Trust (IForUT). However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Irish sawmills to sell uncertified processed wood products. As more roundwood from private forests comes onto the market (estimated at 44% of total roundwood supply by 2024) a lack of certification is likely to become a barrier to wood mobilisation if not properly addressed.Costs of voluntary forest certification are also an issue for private forest owners, and certification bodies need to be conscious of this when setting charges. It is essential that the work initiated in discussion groups, knowledge transfer and forest certification groups be scaled up to bring in as many forest owners as possible. The aim for the two certification groups, recently established by the DAFM, is to increase membership for both groups to 500 by 2020, rising to 1,000 in each group by 2025 (DAFM, 2017a). However, all industry stakeholders have an important role to play in creating awareness of the necessity of certification and encouraging forest owners to become part of certification groups.
Felling licence system and forest management plansThe Forestry Act 2014, which commenced in May 2017, allows for felling licences to be issued for up to a period of 10 years, which may be further extended, upon application, by up to 5 years. The Forestry Act 2014 established a statutory objective to ensure that every felling licence is determined within a period of 4 months. The new Act also facilitates one licence application for thinning and clearfell operations and allows for the inclusion of Forest Management Plans (FMP) as part of the licensing process. The linking of felling licence approval with the submission of long-term management plans, as envisaged by the COFORD Forest Management Planning Group, when implemented, will be a significant step forward in facilitating good management practices and the mobilisation of roundwood. Since May 2017, the felling system is on the IFORIS digital platform, making it easier to track licence application, status, volumes and type.
Common Agricultural Policy – post 2020The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for the development and implementation of national and EU schemes in support of Agriculture, Food,
45
Fisheries, Forestry and Rural Development. State aid is the use of national money to fund various projects, schemes or activities in Ireland. All State-aided schemes are subject to regulations laid down by the European Commission, in line with articles 107 and 108 of the treaty functioning of the European Union (TFEU).The rules for State aid ensure all schemes are compatible with the treaty. This ensures transparency, uniformity and consistency across Ireland and EU Member States with similar schemes.A new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should be agreed by December 2019. Draft proposals have already been circulated, and DAFM held a consultation event with forestry stakeholders in August 2018. Once agreed this policy will underpin State Aid rules for the forestry sector.It is vital that funding for forest roads, and thinning and tending of broadleaves, and for the other relevant mobilisation measures continues under a new forestry programme post 2020.
Wood energyAccording to Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025, under a conservative wood energy demand scenario an overall wood supply deficit of 2.8 m³ and 3.0 m³ is predicted for 2020 and 2025 respectively. Almost all of the 2025 forecasted deficit arises from wood energy demand. Meeting this level of demand will depend on mobilising indigenous sources allied to high levels of imports. Depending on market price, location and other factors, pulpwood from the private forest estate can be used for the production of wood-based panels (WBP) or for wood energy. Most Coillte pulpwood is allocated to the WBP manufacture, which is the assumption used in Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025 and in All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035 (Phillips et al. 2016). This is based on a working assumption that within the economic haulage distance of the Coillte panel mills, any additional pulpwood demand will be satisfied by the private-sector. In reality, the prevailing market price will strongly influence where wood supplies are used. The largest and most uncertain element of future supply/demand is wood energy. Increases in demand are likely to be driven mostly by policies and measures such as the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and any changes to CHP supports. Oil and fossil fuel prices could also be an important driver, but they are of course highly volatile and uncertain. The UK Department for Business, Energy& Industrial Strategy (BEIS) 2016 fossil fuel price assumptions foresees rising oil and gas prices over the period from 2016 to 2025, and for oil these are in the region of 40-50% (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 2016). Such rises, if they occur and are sustained are also likely to influence fuel use and investment decision making as most of the wood energy demand is predicted to be met by woody biomass imports. It should also be noted that the potential impact of the European Commission’s proposed new Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources may reduce the availability of biomass imports and switch the focus to increasing the level of indigenous wood-biomass supply (European Commission, 2017a).Following the announcement of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat in December 2017 and a potential increase in demand for wood energy, there is a fear that the supply of roundwood for fencing and wood-based panel manufacture will be diverted to energy use. Hence the incentive structure for wood energy needs to be balanced against the benefits of existing uses of wood and the contribution to Ireland’s economy. Going forward this area will require close scrutiny by the sector and state bodies.
3.4 Overall conclusionsEvidence to date is that levels of thinning in the private estate have been close to forecast, apart from a falloff in 2016 (see Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025). However, the forecast predicts a rapid expansion in private roundwood
46
supply over the coming decade, and it is to this mobilisation challenge that many of the recommendations in the 2015 report were addressed. While the score card across the recommendations is generally favourable, and levels of harvest are running at record levels, there is no doubt that the mobilisation challenge will become far more onerous over the coming decade, over which time the private sector supply is forecast to increase more than threefold. This equates to annual increases in harvest in excess of 200,000 m3 from the private sector or to put it another way – a 7% increase in overall harvest per year. Is the forest sector capable of mobilising the resource to this level? The evidence to date is yes, but qualified by the reality that it will require a great deal of extra effort and investment, both private and State, to make this happen. Continuous monitoring of the levels of harvest (supply) and demand, and identifying and overcoming mobilisation obstacles needs to be continued through the work of the COFORD Council and other organisations such as the Forest Industry Transport Group. The work of the Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting Group needs to be continued to provide the forest sector with reliable and up to date information on matters affecting wood mobilisation thereby enabling the full benefits that can arise from an increased flow of sustainably produced wood from our forests to be achieved.
47
References and bibliographyBusiness Achievers. 2017. Brexit Tactics. Comments attributed to Bill Stanley from the Business Achievers Website. https://www.business-achievers.com/news/general/brexit-tacticsCOFORD Wood Mobilisation Group. 2015. Mobilising Ireland’s Forest Resource: COFORD, Dublin. http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/2016/MobilisingIrelandsforestresources100516.pdfCOFORD Wood Mobilisation Group. 2018. Wood Supply and Demand on the Island of Ireland to 2025. COFORD, Dublin.DAFM. 2017. Brexit response. Brexit Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dublin https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/foodindustrydevelopmenttrademarkets/agri-foodandtheeconomy/foodwise2025/stepstosuccess2017/chapter3.html DAFM. 2017a. KTG’s and certification groups: Helping to mobilise private timber. Presentation from Karl Coggins- Policy Section in the Forest Service 8th May 2017 to the Wood Mobilisation and Production Forecasting GroupDCCAE. 2017. Draft National Mitigation Plan. Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Dublin.Devlin, G. 2014. Developing a GIS based Agreed Routes Map for Sustainable Timber Transport in Ireland and Mobile App “RouteTagger” (MARTT). COFORD Dublin. https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/research/cofordprogramme/finalreports/7FinalReportMARTT070917.pdfDPER 2018. Project Ireland 2040 – National Development Plan 2018—2027. Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Dublin. http://www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/NDP-strategy-2018-2027_WEB.pdf DTTS. 2017. Regional and Local Roads. Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport http://www.dttas.ie/roads/english/regional-and-local-roadsDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. 2016. BEIS 2016 FOSSIL FUEL PRICE ASSUMPTIONS. Government Publications, London.European Commission. 2017. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - The Future of Food and Farming; Brussels, 29.11.2017 COM(2017) 713 final. https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/future-of-cap/future_of_food_and_farming_communication_en.pdf European Commission. 2017a. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (recast); COM/2016/0767 final/2 – 2016/0382 (COD); Brussels. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52016PC0767R%2801%29IBEC. 2017. Irish Forest Sector & Enterprise Ireland submission to European Commission Taskforce on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom, August 2017 IBEC. 2017a. Brexit: Challenges with solutions. https://www.ibec.ie/Ibec/Brexit.nsf/vPages/Cards~Brexit_Challenges_with_solutions~guiding-principles?OpenDocument
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IFA. 2016. Cut your timber, not your profits – A practical guide to selling timber. https://www.ifa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IFA-SellingTimber-A4-Mar16-WEB.pdf Kent, T., Kofman, P.D. and Coates, E. 2011. Harvesting wood energy. Cost-effective woodfuel supply chains in Irish forestry. COFORD, Dublin. http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/projectreports/Harvesting_Wood_low_res_for_web.pdfPhillips, H., Corrigan, E., McDonagh, M., Fairgrieve, M., Farrelly, N., Redmond, J., Barrett, F. and Twomey, M. 2016. All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2016-2035. COFORD, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dublin h t t p : / / w w w. c o f o r d . i e / m e d i a / c o f o r d / c o n t e n t / p u b l i c a t i o n s / 2 0 1 6 /RoundwoodProductionForecast20162035100117.PDFRevenue. 2018. Capital Acquisitions Tax - Business Relief and forestry/woodland businesses. Revenue eBrief No. 06/18. 10 January 2018. https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/ebrief/2018/no-0062018.aspx Teagasc. 2017. Timber Industry Brexit Forum – Presentation from Bill Stanley (Coillte) at the Talking Timber 2017. Ballyhaise College, Cavan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH3sRR1JCcI and https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/crops/forestry/news/Brexit-Talking-Timber-2017.pdfThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).2016. Bioenergy Supply in Ireland 2015-2035, an update of potential resource quantities and costs. SEAI, Dublin. http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications_/Bioenergy/Bioenergy-Supply-in-Ireland-2015-2035.pdf
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AbbreviationsCHP Combined heat and powerDAFM Department of Agriculture, Food and the MarineGJ GigajouleGWh Gigawatt hourkWh Kilowatt hourm3 Cubic metreMC Moisture contentNI Northern Ireland NRV Net realisable volumePCRW Post consumer recovered woodRoI Republic of Ireland SEAI Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland toe tonne of oil equivalent TWh Terawatt hours
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