Alan Mullen, Monaghan IFA Farm Forestry Chairman welcomed the new Programme
for Governments’ commitment to an afforestation programme of 14,700 hectares
per annum, this represents almost a doubling of the annual planting
programme.

He said there is considerable demand among farmers to plant. Since the start
of the 2011 nearly 5,000 hectares of new forests have been established on
Irish farms, such is the demand that funding for the 2011 spring planting
programme is already used up.

“I have not doubt that there is sufficient interest in private sector to
achieve the afforestation target outlined and I look forward to working with
the new Government to ensure that the target is realised”.

However, he said one of the most pressing issues for the private forest
sector is the mobilisation of the timber resource. He said private forests
now account for nearly 50% of the national forest estate and the
mobilisation of this resource are crucial to achieving Ireland’s timber
production and renewable energy targets.

“I would like to commend the new Government on their commitment to
accelerate the development of the forestry and bioenergy sector, which
offers huge opportunities to create sustainable and vibrant rural
employment. This represents a new focus for renewable energy policy in
Ireland, which to date concentrated on wind energy”.

He cautioned that the merging Coillte and Bord na Mona into the new State
company called BioEnergy Ireland must not be allowed to dominate the market
but should support the private bioenergy sector to achieve its potential.

“Farmers have a central role to play in the bioenergy sector and I welcome
the new Programme for Government proposal to facilitate the development of
energy co-operatives, which I believe is key to the mobilisation of the
fragmented private forest resource”.

IFA supported by the Forest Service is currently developing a practical
guide for farmers interested in establishing a forest owner organisation;
the project is particularly focussed on supplying wood into the local energy
market.