Last week was a wonderful week across Ireland as numerous initiatives were in action to promote the value of trees in the country. Green Belt were active across a number of fronts and one we were particularly proud of was the 4th year (TY) Tree Hugger project taking place in St Jarlath's College in Tuam.

Their Environmental Studies group were putting some finishing touches to their biodiversity project and planted 350 native Irish trees including Birch, Walnut, Oak and Rowan. Our forester, Mike Moroney was the man to help with getting the trees and where and how to plant them.

Well done to all involved - and remember, you need need an excuse to pant a tree.

In an article published on the Farming Independent, written by Claire McCormack, Private forest owners and their families have been warned to “exercise caution” about selling harvesting rights to their woodlands.

The caution from Irish Forest Owners (IFO) – a representative body for the majority of forest owner groups in Ireland – comes amid concern that many private forest owners “may not realise the true value” of their asset.

According to the latest prices, the final harvest value of a conifer forest is likely to be in the region of €10,000–€15,000 per acre.

It also follows moves from a number of investment companies that are seeking to buy the harvesting rights from private forest owners – offering a lump sum up front with annual payments until clearfell.

In a statement, Nicholas Sweetman chairperson of the IFO said many landowners have invested in forestry, especially over the last 30 years.

"Owners should be cautious of relinquishing the value of their timber mid-way through the life cycle of their trees. They should not become sharecroppers on their own land.

“It is of particular concern that these companies are cherry-picking softwood plantations that have recently come out of premium payments and that the owners are not being offered the true value of their forest,” he said.

The IFO is recommending that any forest owner considering these offers gets a valuation of their forest from an independent expert.

“Forest owners can also benefit from information and support from their local forest owners group, as well as independent advice from their local Teagasc Office”.

Harvesting rights Forest owners also need to carefully consider the tax implications of selling their harvesting rights. At present, there is a favourable tax regime for forest owners for profits relating to forestry and for the transfer of forestry to the next generation.

“It is possible that relinquishing harvesting rights may have unforeseen adverse tax implications for the landowner and their family,” he said, adding that “detailed independent legal and taxation advice is vital.”

We were delighted to speak with Sharon and the team from Kokoro. We discussed forestry and how we relax or unwind. Please read on the below link.

https://kokorozenwear.com/kokoro-eco-tribe/meet-maurice-ryan?fbclid=IwAR25Fyn0yog8rL-KdahXZIZ3RWQ4iv3wIw48z1k_SMJ9Wd6w7SOrbFoksTo

**Campaigns questioning the use of woody biomass for energy are missing key facts ** There are concurrent media campaigns and publications questioning the use of woody biomass for renewable energy production. Several of them misrepresent on-the-ground forestry practise and bioenergy systems, and associate the use of woody biomass for energy with overexploitation of forests, even permanent deforestation, and "the burning of trees". In reality, forest bioenergy is an integral part of the forest sector which responds to bioenergy demand by devising forest management approaches and industrial processes to produce fuels, heat and electricity along with sawlogs, paper and a multitude of other biobased products. The media campaigns also often ignore the many steps that have already been taken towards sustainable forest management, particularly in Europe and North America. While it is certainly important to identify what is needed to ensure that biomass is produced and used in a responsible way, the misrepresentations within recent soundbites run the risk of discrediting biomass as a sustainable material and energy source altogether – a feat that could have dire consequences for global carbon neutrality ambitions.

February 2021 – Combustion is today the most frequent means of converting woody biomass into energy, particularly in the form of heat and/or power. This can conjure the vision of “cutting down forest stands and burning the trees for energy” in the mind of the common reader and also scientists that are unfamiliar with on-the-ground forestry and bioenergy systems. However the reality is very different!

Forests are generally managed to provide multiple forest products, such as sawnwood, paper, bioenergy and also other biobased products. The wood used for bioenergy is not high quality lumber, but typically comprises thinnings, low-quality wood, salvage wood, harvest logging residues, processing residues or wood waste. As a case in point, about 90% of global renewable industrial heat consumption is currently based on biomass, mainly in industries that can use their own biomass waste and residues, such as sawmills and the pulp and paper industry. By shifting from fossil fuels to biomass these industries can stop injecting fossil carbon into the atmosphere. Energy efficiency improvements and changes in industrial processes in addition enables them to produce fuels, heat and electricity for use elsewhere, e.g., for heating homes.

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission found that about 50% of wood used for bioenergy in the EU is derived from secondary products, such as forest-based industry by-products and recovered post-consumer wood, 17% from treetops, branches and other residues, and 20% from stemwood - which is mostly coppice wood, small stem thinning wood and harvested stems of poor quality that cannot be used in sawmills or pulp and paper production.

Further, it is well-recognized that any harvesting of biomass – be it for bioenergy, construction material, paper, or other use – should occur within sustainability boundaries. This implies management and harvesting principles providing safeguards against overharvesting and maintaining ecological sustainability as well as cultural and recreational values. This is why in the past 30 years sustainable forest management schemes such as FSC or PEFC endorsed schemes have been developed and deployed. Hundreds of millions of hectares of forests globally are currently certified by FSC or PEFC. Many countries have adopted similar forest management principles in their national or regional forestry legislations. Moreover, in the European context - the focus of these media campaigns - the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive imposes further requirements to minimise the risk of using forest biomass derived from unsustainable practice.

It is critically important to recognize that CO2 from bioenergy use is part of the short-term carbon cycle. When a forest stand is harvested and some of the biomass is used for energy, the carbon that was previously taken up from the atmosphere during stand growth is emitted to the atmosphere, and new carbon is taken up again when the stand regrows. So as long as harvests do not exceed carbon uptake in the forest, it does not increase atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In contrast, fossil fuel use causes a linear flow of carbon from geologic stores to the atmosphere. Just comparing CO2 emissions at the exhaust – as is sometimes done - misses this fundamental difference between biogenic and fossil carbon. What matters is whether increasing use of forest biomass for energy is part of a changing forest management paradigm that brings systematic decreases or increases in the amount of carbon stored in forests. If there is a decrease this diminishes the climate benefits of forest bioenergy. If there is an increase the climate benefit is enhanced.

The most important way to fight climate change is to transform energy and transport systems as soon as possible so that we can leave fossil carbon in the ground. Sustainable bioenergy is available now, and is compatible with existing energy infrastructure, enabling immediate substitution of coal, natural gas or petroleum fuels. Moreover, it can actually remove CO2 from the atmosphere when combined with carbon capture and storage of the CO2 associated with bioenergy use. Bioenergy can therefore play a significant role in supporting energy system transformation to achieve carbon neutrality.

The use of woody biomass to meet growing energy demand as well as its carbon neutrality goals should not be excluded because there may be risks of unsustainable practice. Rather, the focus should be on what practices, innovations, and policy regulations are required to ensure sustainable sourcing and efficient conversion to bioenergy and bioproducts.

This article is reproduced from a press release from IEA Bioenergy. Further information can be sought from Name: Luc Pelkmans, Technical coordinator IEA Bioenergy Tel: +32 492 977930 Email: luc.pelkmans@caprea.be

Happy Holly-day

This year has been a challenging year all round, but Rena Blake and Lisa Fingleton are determined to stay positive and keep taking actions for the future generations to come. Their farm in Ballybunion, The Barna Way, is an eco, social farm with lots of diverse community and creative projects.

“Today we are planting 500 holly trees on the Winter Solstice here in Barna. The holly tree is a particularly significant native tree. Druids believed the Holly tree to possess protective qualities. For centuries this magical tree has been represented by a Holly wreath which was worn as a crown by Celtic chieftains for good luck” says Rena.

Last June Rena and Lisa planted 9500 trees on their land. This initiative is managed by Greenbelt through the Native Woodland Scheme. “We are delighted that Cahills Supervalu have come on board through the Woodland Environmental Fund as we feel this is an important investment in North Kerry” says Rena.

According to Cormac Cahill, the owner and manager of Supervalu, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to get involved in this great project in Ballybunion. Over the last year we have been greening our business as much as possible with solar panels on our roof and our fully electric delivery van. We see this as the cherry on the cake and we are excited to be part of it”.

The woodland includes oak, holly, birch, rowan, hawthorn and Scots Pine. According to Rena “Generations of my family have lived on this land. I feel we are caretakers or stewards of the fields, taking care of it while we are here. One hundred years ago my family planted some trees here which provide great protection for us. We want to leave a woodland for the generations to come”.

Lisa says “We are concerned about climate change and want to play our part in protecting habitats and biodiversity now and into the future. We are so lucky to have land and we feel that planting native trees is the best gift we can give to the planet”.

According to Ger Moroney the Regional Manager at Green Belt “I see it as a collaboration between a local business, Cahill's Supervalu in this case and local landowners (Rena and Lisa) to pay forward environmentally by planting a Native Woodland. Green Belt was involved from the beginning and managed all the forestry aspects of the project.

“I am extremely proud of this particular initiative that started as an ideal with potential- The Woodland Environmental Fund. I think that it's a win win for business, landowners and our environment. Big companies and small have gotten on board with land owners like Rena and Lisa, who recognise that we need to give back, that trees are required to help reverse climate change. The world needs fixing and this scheme helps to encourage landowners to do this. I am most proud that my eldest son Eddie along with Martin and Alex, long term colleagues are involved in the planting and maintenance of Rena and Lisa's trees”.

For more info about Native Woodland scheme contact: Gerard Moroney, Green Belt Ltd P: +353(0)868380915 E: gmoroney@greenbelt.ie

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Imelda Connolly as Group CEO. Imelda brings a wealth of experience from her finance roles across numerous sectors. Her attention to detail and focus on results are a very welcome addition to the management of Green Belt.

Imelda takes control of Green Belt during an extremely challenging period for the forestry industry in Ireland. Initial focus has been to consolidate the business and from this position of strength, we will be much better positioned to continue to deliver strong results to our clients.

While achieving an increase in afforestation area is an important element to our business and the industry at large, there are vast opportunities in the forestry sector to be developed. The new leadership team within Green Belt is embracing these opportunities and you will continue to hear updates as these plans progress.

Here, at Green Belt, we have refashioned our logo to highlight our commitment and dedication to the sustainability and enhancement of your forestry and natural environment through our expert service delivery. Since 1982, we have delivered professional forestry advice and management to more than 7,000 clients at home and abroad. As forestry becomes increasingly crucial in the climate action agenda, Green Belt’s position as professional forestry and natural environment management consultants provide us with the perfect platform to develop the bioeconomy and add further value to the national private estate. ‘Your Forest, Your Future’ is an expression of our commitment to you, our clients, to continue to deliver exceptional returns in economic, environmental and social terms. Your local forestry expert will guide you through all aspects of essential forestry management. We look forward to working with you into the future. Watch out for our newly branded vehicles on the road too!

In an article from the Irish Independent, below, the Forest Service have been shown to have misled the entire country in their analysis of the issues around the issuance of licences for all aspects of forestry activity.

The issues were highlighted to the Forest Service more than 3 years ago, but has to date been dealt with poorly and ineffectively. @FII have been constantly lobbying the government to affect real change within the department but to no avail. This is a further hammer blow to an already under pressure, poorly regarded but increasingly valuable sector.

Claire Mc Cormack November 25 2020 01:21 PM

A staggering 4,600 forestry license applications are backlogged in the Forestry Service, the Department of Agriculture has admitted, with fears in the sector the backlog could take four years to clear. It is understood an admission that 4,600 licenses are waiting approval was made during an official policy-related meeting involving Department officials this week. Until now, Department officials have routinely repeated other figures stating that between 1,900 and 2,000 forestry license applications were stuck in the system - this position was reaffirmed as recently as last week’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture meeting by both Colm Hayes assistant secretary general at the Department and Pippa Hackett Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry. However, the Farming Independent now understands that 2,000 license applications for felling and planting are grounded in the Department’s ecology division, an additional 1,400 license files for roads are marooned in another processing system, while a further 1,200 Coillte licenses for clear fell and thinning are also in a state of arrested development. With grave concerns already aired that a 2,000-strong license log-jam would take at least two years to overcome; stakeholders now fear that it will take more than four years to work the stockpile through the official system currently in operation. This latest development is another heavy blow to frontline stakeholders involved in Irish forestry supply chain – from farmers, primary producers, contractors and forestry service providers to timber merchants, sawmills, manufacturers, nurseries and haulage companies who are currently reliant on boatload imports of sawlog and sawn timber to keep the sector afloat. But with growing concern that import supplies will dry up next spring, sources say significant pressure for urgent short-term actions to ameliorate the crisis and long-term changes to the relevant legislative process will mount on the Department over the coming days and weeks. The deepening saga also continues to cast further doubt over Programme for Government aspirations to plant 8,000ha of new carbon-absorbing forestry every year to offset emissions. It is projected that just 2,000ha will be planted by the end of 2020 – this is down from peak levels of planting 23,000ha in 1995, according to official Department data.

MINISTER McCONALOGUE AND MINISTER HACKETT MUST ACT ON IFA EMERGENCY FORESTRY MEASURES IFA President Tim Cullinan said that Minister McConalogue and Minister of State Hackett must act on the six emergency measures put forward by IFA. These would allow farmers to manage their forests and ensure the survival of our indigenous timber industry, At a meeting yesterday with Ministers McConalogue and Hackett, IFA pointed out that there are nearly 2,000 licences caught up in the Department. Despite the additional resources that have been allocated, the backlog will not be cleared for two years. ““The target for processing licences in both the legislation and the Charter of Farmers’ Rights is four months. These delays are a scandalous treatment of farmers and will be the death knell for our timber industry and our forestry planting programme” he said. He stressed IFA’s willingness to work with the Ministers, but said that the length of the timeframe proposed to deal with the crisis was unacceptable. “I have asked the Ministers to go to the EU Commission to seek an amnesty, an emergency provision, due to the scale of the crisis and the risk to the future of the forest sector. These are exceptional circumstances and demand exceptional actions,” he said. IFA Farm Forestry Chairman Vincent Nally said that the system is not working for farmers. The costs and red tape associated with planting and managing a forest is a disincentive to planting and actively discourages management. “The system needs to be streamlined through the amendment of the Forestry Act 2014 to remove the requirement of a licence for a forest roads and thinning operations. The submission of a management plan that describes how the forest will be sustainably managed over a ten to twenty-year period, should replace the licence requirement,” he said.
Mr. Cullinan said that he welcomed the proposal by the Ministers to meet again in three weeks to progress action on forestry licences. “There is no doubt that the system needs to be reformed, and without this reform, I could not encourage farmers to plant.”

Ends.

The McKinnon report was commissioned to help Ireland deliver on its afforestation potential and requirements. Since its publication, there has been some progress but nowhere near enough to actually drive the sector on - in fact, it is in more danger than ever, which includes the potential loss of a high proportion of the 12,000 jobs in rural communities that are employed within the sector.

Minister Hackett has stopped short from actually and actively pushing to get the McKinnon report implemented and rather, took the softer option of appointing Jo O'Hara as an advisor - The industry hopes this is not simply lip service and results will actually be delivered from this appointment - Ms O'Hara certainly has the credential to deliver. We will watch with interest.....

Press release from the DAFM Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has today announced the appointment of Ms. Jo O’Hara to advise her on implementation of the Mackinnon Report. This Report was commissioned by the Department to review the processes and procedures for forestry licensing in Ireland. Jo O’Hara was a British Forestry Commissioner, Chief Forester for Scotland and Chief Executive of Scottish Forestry, she is currently working as a private consultant in the UK.

Minister Hackett commented

“The Mackinnon report was commissioned to review our processes and procedures and ensure that collectively we are fit for purpose to deliver the ambitious targets for the forestry sector in Ireland. Its implementation is set out as a key forestry action in the Programme for Government and I am delighted to have Jo O’Hara on board to advise on this process. I met with Jo recently and was impressed with her enthusiasm for forestry and woodland creation. She understands the wide range of concerns here in Ireland in relation to forestry. Jo brings a wealth of experience from her time in Scotland not least in leading the implementing of the Scottish Mackinnon report.

The Minister added

“We have set Jo O’Hara an ambitious target of reporting back by end-February, with her advice on actions for the successful delivery of the ‘ways forward’ identified in Mackinnon. Forestry has enormous potential to deliver for climate, biodiversity and the rural economy and the implementation of this review will help to ensure that the licensing system can deliver on that future policy ambition, as well as assisting with the resolution of current issues. It must also, of course, maintain the integrity of the current licencing system and ensure continued compliance with all of our environmental obligations”.

The Minister concluded,

“I would encourage all stakeholders to take the time to read the Mackinnon report again as it contains a number of important recommendations, on which we all need to reflect. I would also encourage any interested stakeholders to engage with Jo O’Hara on her work. I have established a Forestry Policy Group, comprising a broad range of stakeholders, which will be actively involved in this process and which will have its first meeting next week. This is the group which will help to inform forest policy development in Ireland and it’s important also that they have the opportunity to engage with Jo O’Hara from the beginning of her appointment”.

On taking up the appointment Jo O’Hara said,

“I am delighted to have been appointed by the Minister to help with this vital work. Sustainable forestry clearly has an important role in realising the huge potential of Ireland’s land to support a productive, low-carbon and nature-rich economy, and I am glad to be able to share my experience in developing supportive systems and processes to achieve that. I look forward to engaging with the stakeholders in Ireland to meet the Minister’s ambitious target of advising on an implementation plan by end-February”

Note for Editors: The Terms of Reference for Jo O’Hara’s work are:

a. To advise the Minister on an Implementation Plan based on the Mackinnon report, setting out measurable and deliverable actions and timelines for their achievement;

b. To engage with all relevant stakeholders in the development of this Plan;

c. To submit her recommendations on an Implementation Plan to the Minister and the Forest Policy Group by end-February, 2021.

The Mackinnon report is published at: Review of the Appeal Process for Afforestation In Ireland - McKinnon 2019

Jo O’Hara was formerly Chief Executive of Scottish Forestry, a Forestry Commissioner and Head of Forestry Commission Scotland and is currently working as a consultant and non-executive Director. She is a qualified forestry and land use professional, with 30 years’ experience in operational and policy roles. During her time leading Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Forestry, she oversaw the development and introduction of a new forestry strategy, and a significant increase in sustainable woodland creation of all types and scales.