Forestry & Enviro

April 2021

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New environmental scheme REAP: What details have emerged so far? 

The “much-hyped” REAP agri-environmental scheme is “designed to accommodate intensive derogation farmers”, say farm leaders who have reacted with dismay to the pilot scheme details.

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How to look after a young forest and sidestep costly problems

Newly planted forests require several years of active management to become well established, regardless of the type of woodland or tree species.

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Fearghal O'Connor Opinion The pandemic is a picnic compared to climate crisis ahead for aviation

We have learned during this pandemic that some things we thought were essential really are not. Aviation – at least the type of mass tourism driven aviation that we had all become accustomed or even addicted to – is one of those things.

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Plans advance for major €3bn wind farm off the Dublin/Wicklow coastline 

An international energy group  is  planning a wind farm project off Bray Head to create what could be one of the country’s largest electricity generating facilities involving a potential investment of around €3bn.  

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Rising Sika deer populations linked to bovine TB infections

New research suggests Ireland’s increasing populations of Sika deer may be linked to local outbreaks of TB infection in cattle.

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Call to end year-round open season on wood pigeon as ‘hunters abusing rules’

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) wants an end to the year-round open season on wood pigeons, saying there is little evidence they cause crop damage and the rules are being abused by sports hunters.

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Farmers to get grant aid to plant trees along rivers to act as ‘carbon sink’

Farmers are to be offered grants to plant trees along rivers and watercourses to act as a ‘carbon sink’, under plans to be drawn up by Government.

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March 2021

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Shannon LNG investor to relaunch planning process

US group New Fortress Energy will file fresh planning documents for its controversial €500m liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Shannon within weeks.

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Pesticide levels in public drinking water supplies breached regulations 81 times last year

Pesticides levels in public drinking water supplies breached regulations on 81 occasions last year.

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Gallery

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Full planning permission for fencing, drainage and digger work on selected lands by 2030

Full planning permission may be required for fencing, draining or any work involving a digger on some selected farmlands by 2030 under controversial EU special designation plans.

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After 30 years in forestry the CEO of NewGen wants to grow native Irish trees on 1000s of hectares

John O’Reilly has spent 30 years making a living out of forestry but doesn’t just see timber as a commodity. He has always been a big nature lover. “That would have been my primary driver on day one,” he says of his career choice. “I’d have been a mouth open, David Attenborough watcher on telly all the time, always was.”

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McConalogue warned of ‘no-confidence motion’ if forestry crisis continues

A motion of no confidence in Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue “is inevitable” unless “positive changes” become apparent in the forestry sector, independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has warned.

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The benefits of growing quality trees in hedgerows

I’m lucky that during lockdown I can walk straight out my front door and go for walk up a nice, quiet country lane. On the day I’m writing this, the weather isn’t great, but I was amazed the difference a few roadside trees can make.

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Livestock levels could drop in Northern Ireland to meet climate change targets

Climate change targets will mean reductions of livestock levels on Northern Ireland farms, it has been warned.

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Eirgrid plans up to €2bn worth of new electricity pylons, cables and substations in next 10 years

Eirgrid is to install up to €2bn worth of new electricity pylons, cables, substations and converter stations across communities and countryside over the next 10 years.

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Most rural people do not want solid fuel controls

Only a third of rural dwellers want stricter controls on solid fuels, compared to 83pc of people who live in cities.

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4,500 forestry licences still jammed as calls mount to ‘abolish’ system

Pressure is mounting on the Department of Agriculture to “abolish” its forestry licensing system as an estimated 4,500 applications are still backlogged for processing.

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New strategy launched  to tackle ongoing forestry issues

A new report on the forestry sector, heavily critical of the Department of Agriculture's handling of issues in the sector, has recommended a new governance structure to address the ongoing issues.

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GNI offers €2.9m grant for hauliers

Gas Networks Ireland has launched a €2.9m compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle grant scheme.

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February 2021

Opposition to wind farms and overhead power lines could result in sharp increase in electricity prices – ESRI

Public opposition to wind farms and overhead electricity lines could result in sharp increase in electricity prices in future, according to the country’s leading think-tank.

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DAFM strategy to reform forestry licensing system unveiled

A new strategy to reform the Irish forestry licensing system has been accepted by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and the Minister of State for Agriculture Pippa Hackett.

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Agriculture ministers urge Environmental Pillar to ‘reconsider’ committee exit

Ministers at the Department of Agriculture have expressed “regret” over the decision of the Environmental Pillar to withdraw from the Agri-Food 2030 Strategy committee.

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Environmental Pillar withdraws from Agri-Food Strategy committee

The Environmental Pillar representative has formally withdrawn from the Agri-Food Strategy 2030 committee, it has emerged.

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‘Forestry owners need to get money in their pockets — that’s what will keep the industry alive’

WESTMEATH woman Olive Leavy, who grew up on a dairy farm just outside Kinnegad, has worked with the some of the foremost scientific and medical thinkers of modern times.

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‘I’m delighted I switched to organic — it is more profitable overall’

‘When considering switching to organic, I was not really motivated by environmental concerns at all,” says Cillian Ronayne, who farms in Conna, Co Cork.

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Colm McCarthy Opinion If we want a serious climate policy, we need to accept the costs and trade-offs

A post-Covid strategy for economic policy is already in formation. The Government is reviewing the 2040 National Development Plan (NDP) and a revised version is due mid-year. The NDP, released early in 2018, is the framework for public capital investment out to 2040.

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‘If your house is flooded five times, Mother Nature is giving you a message’ – New climate chief is determined to be heard

“Tell them about the heat pumps, Dermot.” The plea goes through Marie Donnelly’s mind every time she watches Room to Improve.

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Global spending on green economic stimulus slowly tracking upwards

Massive post-pandemic stimulus packages are mostly failing to support action to tackle climate change or halt the loss of biodiversity, but the amount of green spending is slowly tracking upwards, according to a new study.

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Eight-fold increase in felling licence approvals needed to meet future demand

Approvals for forestry felling licences for private woodlands will have to increase eight-fold by 2025 if Ireland is to realise the full potential of plantations established in the 1980s.

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Call for fair and equitable compensation for farmers to be included in overhaul of water abstraction laws

Fair and equitable compensation must be paid to farmers where water abstraction takes place on farmland and results in land sterilisation, crop loss and disturbance, according to the IFA.