Foresty to benefit from CAP review

A FOREST Service spokesperson has told Farming Life that Northern Ireland’s forestry and woodland sectors may benefit from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform deal struck by European Union Farm Ministers just over a fortnight ago.

The view expressed reflects a growing belief that commercial tree planting levels can be increased on the back of a greater commitment by Government to rural development.

This is an opinion also held by premier Woodlands’s director, John Moore.

“Obviously we won’t know the full detail of the CAP review package until all relevant details have been thrashed out,” he told Farming Life.

“However we do know that Member State Governments and regional assemblies will have flexibility in deciding how the various regulations are finally implemented.

“Modern forestry practices fully meet the rural development criteria in full. What’s more, timber remains the one agricultural commodity in which the EU is far from self-sufficient.

“Given that we in Northern Ireland enjoy the perfect climate in which to grow trees, I hope that Government will take the opportunity of reflecting these key benefits as they decide on the practical implementation of the new CAP arrangements.”

These comments come in the wake of major report outlining the prospects for forestry in the Irish Republic. Carried out by Peter Bacon & Associates, Economic Consultants, the work confirms that for every pounds 1 the State invests in forestry it gets pounds 1.59 back. Significantly, this return compares favourably with other state investments such as broadband and roads and comfortably exceeds the Department of Finance threshold for State intervention.

This socio-economic appraisal of the sector was commissioned by the Irish Farmers’ Association, the Irish Forest Industry Chain and the self-assessment forestry companies.

Among Bacon’s key recommendations are that forestry policy must avoid a stop-go approach.

The Irish Government’s own 1996 strategy for forestry had set annual afforestation targets of 20,000 ha per annum yet they only provided enough funding to plant 12,000 hectares in 2003 in spite of the fact that the Irish Forest Service have been aggressively promoting forestry over the last few years.

Farmers in the Irish Republic have applied to plant 23,000ha this year.

Another recommendation arising from the report is that the authorities in Dublin should review their policy to recognise the wider social and environmental benefits of forestry.

Although these may have been eluded to in the 1996 Strategy it was based mainly on timber production. The report highlights benefits such as the potential for forestry to act as a carbon sink and the role of forestry in meeting our Greenhouse Gas reduction targets.

Commitments have been given under the partnership agreement in relation to such a review.