Green Belt is delighted to see Minister Barry Cowen @CowenBarry has selected Minister Hackett to "be the Minister with direct responsibility for forestry matters in Government." In a statement on the DAFM website a meeting between Ministers Cowen and Hackett with Coillte was spoken of and the vast potential in the forestry sector was discussed during this meeting.

We believe, having spoken with both Ministers, that their focus and drive to promote, improve and deliver within the sector is extremely positive and is a drive that has been sorely missing for a long time.

The potential to increase value, sustain the environment and enhance our carbon mitigation efforts are intrinsically linked to our forestry and land use policy. Minister Hackett has pedigree in the agricultural arena and certainly seems to have the appetite to deliver a successful program.

Green Belt will provide as much support to the government in this transition as possible and strongly encourages the diverse and varied forestry and woodland programmes that can be delivered successfully across all aspects of our agricultural landscape.

If you would like to play your part, please contact one of our professional foresters and consider the options available to you.

Programme for Government – an assessment of the forestry potential within.

The proposed programme for government (PFG) may have some commitment by Saturday 27th June. If this PFG has accord between the 3 proposed parties, the suggestion is that forestry, as part of the agriculture brief, will be given considerable attention.

For too long, forestry has been seen through a narrow lens, an industry and crop that is in competition to ‘traditional’ farming activities. We see it as very much a complementary activity. The new government has a unique opportunity to reshape the agricultural landscape to address the climate issues through carbon reduction and capture for a longer term solution. Within the PFG document, there is a dedicated Forestry section that addresses many of the concerns. Quoting directly from the PFG we see that there are plans to • “…Incorporate afforestation into the new CAP to provide incentives for farmers to plant woodland on their farms, acting as a carbon store, helping to promote wildlife corridors, and providing a future fuel source for the household. • Actively promote and support farm forestry/rewilding options that do not impact on agricultural production and support biodiversity and habitat creation. We will incentivise, the option of small-scale (e.g. one hectare) forestry/rewilding.

These two points of action could potentially conflict with one another and lead farmers to choose the ‘easier’ option of planting 1 hectare of land. Land that may be low value, has a low productivity rate and is inaccessible. The 1 hectare of planting will add very little to our carbon challenge or to afforestation rates and national forestry cover (less than 11% versus European average of 33%). The former suggestion, where farmers are to be incentivised to establish woodlands on their farm is an opportunity that could address so many prevalent issues around agriculture, afforestation, environmental concerns and future timber supply. It should incorporate all aspects of the clean environment program, addressing water quality, farm emissions and run offs and look at the broad opportunity for providing real value and material to local and commercial timber users. For example, farmers should be encouraged to establish woodlands on their farm and the area under trees should be relatively significant. Recently, we looked at the average beef farm earnings over the last 10 years and compared that to the potential earnings from adding forestry into their crop management.

The graphs highlight the financial benefit to a farming family of planting a percentage of their farm holding with forestry (this is based on average size cattle farm number from the Teagasc National Farm survey and applying the average forest are as planted by Green Belt over the same period). So, let’s consider the positive impact that establishing 7 hectares of poplar on a ‘typical’ farm could bring. Firstly, it is a hardwood and adds biodiversity to the planting species nationally. It is an attractive tree, and would enhance the visual aspect of a farm – the trees could be planted as a 40 meter wide perimeter on the farm estate. Secondly, the trees would provide a valuable, natural and sustainable buffer for farm fun offs. The root structure would capture much of the run off and utilise the nutrients within the run off to increase the yield of the trees. Environmentally, the woodland significantly addresses the watercourse issues, also a topic covered in the PFG as well as habitat protection and enhancement. The trees would provide an income to the farmer in the form of annual premiums (€510 per hectare per annum i.e. €3,570 for 7 hectares) and also the harvested crop after 15 years (Estimated at €91,000 for 7 hectares). The crop would be coppiced so there is no replanting costs and the roots will retain the carbon stored as there will be no replanting works excavating/ cultivating the soil.

From the Teagasc National Farm Survey on downloadable pdf

Concentrating on farms that are producing less than the annual premium payment per hectare per annum, we can see an average of 7 hectares per farm will increase the annual earning per hectare for the farmer as well as increasing the national forestry cover by more than 400,000 hectares.

A Mature Poplar stand, with stems suitable for veneer production (image included in pdf). Much of the carbon stored in the timber harvested will be stored long term as it will be used in veneer production and biomass use. The veneer panels will have a 30+ year life term in construction, both locally and abroad. A rough estimate of the carbon sequestered by the trees during their lifetime and not including the longer term retention in processed material, is 7 X 15 X 3 = 315 tonnes of carbon for an average holding planting 7 hectares. There is a further opportunity within this plan to actively promote the utilisation of biochar on the farm and in the in-farm planting programme. The positive impact of biochar would see a 9 times increase in the efficacy of any fertiliser applied – including the run off from a dairy farm for example. It stores carbon for millennia; it is a one time only application and it can act as natures filter for the land and water nearby. The intrinsic benefit from the application of enriched biochar is the improved grass yield per hectare – meaning smaller herd numbers. Which, again, can have a positive bearing on dairy farmers operations. The above hypothesis can be made for Native woodlands, Sitka Spruce and so on. The traditional method of assessing forestry and new planting, as well as end markets for the harvested and processed material, is changing and will continue to do so. The bioeconomy is looming large on the horizon and needs to be fully embraced as part of the Irish solution. Within the framework of the PFG, there are clear lines of association between forestry, forestry resources, timber and related by products and the removal, replacement and substitution of fossil fuels from our industries and society. A collaborative approach to creating a circular economy is proposed within the framework for government. The topics highlighted below all offer expansive opportunities within the private forestry sector to encourage, associate, develop and enhance its position alongside the agricultural industry in Ireland. Regulation Driving Climate Action Waste and a Circular Economy Action Plan Climate Action Fund Flagship Environmental Scheme Land Use Review Organic Farming Scheme

Green Belt continues to pioneer in our sector and will continue to do so for our clients – existing and ones we are yet to meet. The future is positive. The future is Green. The future is yours.

Extensive planning, environmental considerations and consultation with the land owner all played a significant role in the development of this forest in Barnacrow, County Kildare. Niall O'Neill, Green Belt's forestry manager in that region, established the 35 hectare (gross) plantation working with the landowners forestry consultant. The submission made to the forest service was altered based on feedback from relevant authorities and ultimately approved. There is 24.3 hectares of commercial forestry and 6 hectares of native broadleaves established. The remainder was left unplanted for biodiversity purposes.

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Practicing the ethos of the 'right tree in the right place', Niall considered the neighbouring plantation which had been planted in 1989. His selection was based on the performance of that trees originally planted in that forest, and as a result, Norway Spruce was selected due to its robustness to frost damage. Across the site, there is a 6 hectare native woodland, creating a wildlife and biodiversity corridor between the existing forestry, the grand canal and the new forest. Further protection measures were taken with regard the watercourses on site.

The article from the Farmers Journal @farmersjournal, as written by Donal Magner can be downloaded here. Contact Niall O'Neill, or any of our foresters, to discuss your forestry options and what is best suited to your lands.

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We all enjoyed the phenomenal weather over the long weekend, and it certainly helps with the lockdown issues and social distancing. But, if you're noticing the grass in your garden is struggling and turning yellow, as well as fields all over the country, then you won't be surprised to hear that this has been the driest Spring (March, April & May) since 1837, as recorded in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. The Icarus blog as hosted by the department of Geography at Maynooth university, identifies more extreme drought conditions, and a month earlier than in 2018!

Icarus also suggests that the "long range forecasts and seasonal outlooks show little sign of significant rain at this stage." The blog post from Icarus is here.

The impacts of this on forestry across the country is the higher likelihood of forest fires nationally. The weekend saw numerous fires nationally, with a status RED warning - a relatively rare event in Ireland. The Irish Times reported on a number of fires across the country, for example on the Kildare/ Meath border and in close proximity to a munitions factory.

Of course, this is a cause of great concern to us here and for many of our clients, particularly in the highest risk areas. For example, we have been monitoring fires in Galway close to clients holdings. Green Belt has put in place fire breaks around the higher risk properties, which is a good help. The RED warning suggests that the fire brigade etc may be proactively deploying to areas of highest risk.

We urge everyone to be vigilant and careful. If you spot anything that looks like a forest fire, report it. And please do not light fires, BBQ's etc anywhere near forests or dry grass. Use your head! See below selected extracts the reference from Coillte.ie

STATUS RED EXTREME FOREST FIRE RISK WARNING ISSUED PUBLIC URGED TO REMAIN AT HOME AS PER COVID-19 GUIDELINES Status RED EXTREME National Forest Fire Risk Warning in place until Monday of next week

DAFM advise at this point that all forms of permitted controlled burning immediately cease, and that the outdoor use of fires, barbeques and other open ignition sources be avoided on forest lands and in other high risk areas until further notice. Report Fires Immediately. If you see a fire, do not delay; report it to the Fire and Emergency Services straight away. Do not wait for somebody else to make the call. Dial 999 or 112. It is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1st March and 31st August in any year. Report all suspicious or illegal activity to Gardai immediately. The issue of Condition Red extreme fire risk warnings is a comparatively rare event and implies that recipients should take immediate action to protect resources and property. Such action may involve the mobilisation, assembly and prepositioning of resources such as water tankers, machinery, personnel and contract aviation support to high risk areas.

Coillte has reminded members of the public that the Government Covid 19 related restrictions are still in place and that members of the public should stay at home or within 5km of their home. Arising from increased temperatures and low recent rainfall levels, a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.

Weather conditions across Ireland indicate a high fire spread potential and difficulty of suppression in typical upland fuels. Fire behaviour will be influenced by light to moderate easterly and south easterly winds that may exceed 20km/h in coastal areas. Fire behaviour may be moderated by increased live growth in places. Overall Forest fire risk is likely to be compounded by ignitions risks associated with expected high levels of public activity in fire prone areas during the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites are reminded of the requirement to remain within 5km of their homes and to adhere to regulations introduced to limit the spread of Covid-19. Vehicles should not be parked at site entrances or impede emergency service access to forest roads. DAFM advise that all outdoor use of fires, barbeques and other open ignition sources be avoided on forest lands and in other high risk areas until further notice.

Pending significant rainfall, this risk condition will remain in place until 1200hrs on Monday, June 1st, 2020 unless otherwise stated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Coillte forest carparks and forests remain open for people who live within 5km of them to take brief physical exercise in line with the Government guidelines.

Landowners are also reminded that under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to burn growing vegetation on uncultivated land between 1st March and 31st August. Persons engaged in such illegal activity are liable to prosecution and could face fines, imprisonment and penalties to their farm payments.

Aldi have committed to tackle their carbon emissions and address the forestry shortfall across Ireland by supporting a local farmer in Kerry. Under the Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF), Aldi provided additional financial support to the farmer, John Lynch, to further encourage the establishment of a native woodland. The details appear in this newspaper article

The native woodland scheme and the WEF administered by the Forest Service and regulated by Natural Capital Partners, has been a wonderful addition to the planting program. It is now accounting for a significant percentage of the national planting numbers and has continued to highlight the great benefits forestry brings to Ireland in general and local communities in particular.

Forestry is unique in how it can add value to so many throughout its life cycle. As an amenity for the forest owner, it is a wonderful asset. It also provides a generous tax free income and a wealth protector for families. For a community, the majority of works carried out on a forest are done so by local workers and foresters, thus keeping business in an area and of course there are the environmental benefits - capturing and storing carbon not only in its growing life, but beyond that in the products that are created from the timber.

Your local forester will help you decide what trees are best for your land. Contact them today.

In an article published in Bioenergy international (https://bioenergyinternational.com/opinion-commentary/40817) and written by Alan Sherrard, the European Court of Justice ruled against a challenge to biomass being included in the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII). This is indeed good news as it paves the way for biomass to not only continue to become important in the heating and energy sector but also acts as an encouragement to those considering an investment into biomass CHP thus displacing fossil fuel usage. Green Belt harvests 200,000 tonnes of timber each year and up to 40% of this material is used for biomass. The private estate in Ireland will provide much of this material to utilities into the future provided the mobilisation of the timber from the private estate is encouraged and facilitated by the forest service. A strong new minister for forestry will hopefully make the wheels of the industry turn quicker than the current rate.

Quotes from the article are below which have been copied from the Bioenergy international website - https://bioenergyinternational.com/opinion-commentary/40817.

With this procedural ruling, the European Court of Justice clears doubts on the future of the EU’s largest renewable energy source. The inclusive work carried by the decision-makers and experts during many years of consultations, scientific debate, and evidence collection that led to the REDII sustainability framework is acknowledged as a solid approach.

We welcome the Court’s ruling, which removes unnecessary uncertainty over the future of renewable energy in Europe. Although this was a procedural ruling this was the right overall result, as the arguments put forward in the case had no value. The European institutions carried out an open consultation to gather scientific and environmental advice and considered these during the legislative process. The result was a revised Renewable Energy Directive that set out rigorous standards for the inclusion of sustainable biomass in the European energy mix, said Seth Ginther, USIPA Executive Director.

Since the early stage of the consultation, bioenergy industry stakeholders and trade bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have fully supported the introduction of sustainability criteria for solid biomass. These ensure that biomass is produced sustainably, irrespective of its geographical origin. If sustainably sourced and produced, bioenergy brings considerable environmental and socio-economic benefits.

As noted by forest economists, forest stocks have been increasing in the US Southeast because markets for wood products, like biomass, provide financial incentives for private landowners to keep investing in the continual cycle of thinning, harvesting and replanting trees.

The Irish Times have reported the below article relating to a forest fire in young Sitka plantation in Leitrim. The cost to the taxpayer for this damage is estimated at €500,000. If it were caused on purpose by protestors who argue that exchequer funds re diverted into forestry unnecessarily, then they have not helped their cause at all with a further half million being lost during an altogether difficult time nationally and globally. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/forest-fire-that-caused-500-000-worth-of-damage-in-leitrim-was-started-deliberately-1.4235364?mode=amp

COVID 19 is everywhere and the best way to combat this is to follow the advice and guidelines from the experts.

Green Belt has implemented its own policy to prevent any contamination or spreading of the disease.

As part of this policy, we are postponing client face to face meetings and any necessary interactions, are conducted with the minimum 2 metre social distancing industry place. Similarly we are using soap and water and/ or sterilising liquid to keep the disease at bay. There was a pharmacist speaking recently and she said “think that every time you wash your hands.......it might be the break in the chain”.

Please stay safe, away from others and be smart about this.

In the meantime, Green Belt can still work remotely, can still visit forests and lands and continue to apply for planting grants and acquire semi mature forests.

It’s business as usual(ish) but in a slightly different way.

All the contractors and local businesses they depend on the forestry value chain need your support more than ever - and that’s really essential.

Prosper Cavan, presented by the Guinness Enterprise Centre and supported by Bank of Ireland held its second event on Tuesday 18th of February. Bank of Ireland in Grand Canal kindly opened their doors to allow a collection of entrepreneurs and business people from Cavan (and even Toronto) to meet, network and discuss all that Cavan has to offer.

Tony Walker, general manager of the Slieve Russel hotel was keynote speaker on the night and was hugely impressive and informative on the fabulous hotel and some of the amazing tourist attractions around the county - such as Cavan Burren park, Clogh Oughter Castle, Killykeen forest parks and even a WW1 trench experience.

Marcus from Rural Adventure tours also spoke and what they offer is incredible - fun, excitement and activities all around Cavan (and nationally).

Cavan county Council also spoke of Cavan Calling events in August this year - can you and yours come along? Lots to see and do for all the family.

The mobilisation of Irish indigenous biomass will be one of many topics discussed at the upcoming Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) conference at the end of February in Croke Park. Significant investment in forestry since 1990 will see residual pulp wood and brash material coming to the market over the next number of years. The Irish forestry estate of approximately 750,000 hectares (representing circa 10% the area of ROI) is currently owned approximately 50% private and 50% public. The private forestry network is owned by approximately 22,000 landowners of which 83% are farmers. The average size of these forestry holdings is 8.8 ha.

Speaking in advance of the IrBEA conference sponsored by Bord na Mona, Seán Finan, CEO of IrBEA said “Mobilising Irish indigenous biomass and brash is crucial to achieving our Renewable Energy targets in both the electricity and heating sectors. Addressing the challenges of fragmented and mobilisation of our private forestry estate will need to be overcome. Bord na Móna, is playing a positive role by helping unlock the biomass opportunity in Ireland as an outlet for residual material which will help decarbonise Ireland's electricity grid. The Edenderry power plant is looking to use 100% biomass as a feedstock by 2024 which will maximise locally sourced biomass. Currently, Bord na Móna is sourcing most of their biomass requirements from Irish suppliers and want to see these Irish volumes grow in the coming years. This growth will have the double benefit of developing biomass supply chains for industry and renewable heat and creating new jobs in rural communities.”

The IrBEA conference titled “Bioenergy - Inspiring the Industry with Opportunity and Vision” will bring together professionals, industry representatives, researchers, farmers, foresters, technology providers and many important stakeholders across the bioenergy sectors of biomass, biogas, biofuels, energy crops and wood fuels. The conference provides a platform to discuss all aspects of the bioenergy industry, its role in the transition to a low carbon economy and the opportunity and role bioenergy has in addressing climate change.

Des O’Toole, IrBEA President said “Sustainably produced biomass will play a key role in Irelands transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to a low carbon economy. Bord na Móna are actively encouraging the mobilisation of Irelands private forestry resources, matching local supply with local energy demand while providing a route to market for these first and second thinning’s and brash material”

Seán Finan IrBEA CEO concluded “Power using Biomass produces a full ‘on demand’ renewable energy and complements other renewable technologies. When the wind doesn’t blow, or the sun doesn’t shine biomass can guarantee a supply of renewable energy to our electricity grid. The use of indigenous biomass will assist Ireland to decarbonisation our energy system but also drive the economic and growth agenda in rural Ireland.”

Ends.

For Further information please contact: Seán Finan B.E. C.Eng MIEI CEO Irish Bioenergy Association 0874146480