Publication
Forest Policy and Strategy
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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- 1. Ireland’s Forest Strategy (2023 – 2030)
- 2. Determinations for Ireland’s Forest Strategy (2023 – 2030)
- 3. Forest Strategy Implementation Plan including the Forestry Programme 2023-2027
- 4. Environmental Assessment Reports for Forest Strategy Implementation Plan including the Forestry Programme 2023-2027
- 5. Forestry Licensing Plan
- 6. Project Woodland
Project Woodland was established in February 2021 to reform the regulation and vision for forestry in Ireland. Through extensive consultation with stakeholders, Project Woodland will develop a new forest strategy which will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027.
The members of the project board are Brendan Gleeson (secretary general of this department); Jo O’Hara (former CEO Scottish Forestry); Sarah O’Shea (CEO, SOS Sports; honorary general secretary, Olympic Federation Ireland); Jerry Grant (chair, Dublin Port Company).
The department is engaging with stakeholders and the public through various platforms and consultations this year.
Read the "Project Woodland: Regulatory Review Report" by solicitors Philip Lee LLP which the Department commissioned after recommendations from Project Woodland.
Review of Approval Processes for Afforestation in Ireland - Mackinnon 2019
Review of Approval Processes for Afforestation in Ireland - Mackinnon 2019
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Implementation of the MacKinnon Report
Implementation of the MacKinnon Report
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“The right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management – supporting a sustainable and thriving economy and society and a healthy environment.”
The Shared National Vision for Trees and Forests in Ireland until 2050 is a visionary document.
It anticipates by 2050 that Ireland’s forests will be seen as a key solution to the climate, biodiversity, housing and health emergencies of the 2020s.
The Shared Vision for Forests was crafted by Project Woodland and finalised following extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation throughout 2021/2022.
A summary of the methodology used, the results of the consultations, and the influence of the consultation and engagement on the National Shared Vision is available here:
There were six individual elements to the consultation and engagement process and the outcomes reflect a range of views that is representative of a cross section of Irish Society. Reports and details of each these elements can be found below:
• A Public Attitudes Survey (Behaviour and Attitudes, 2022). This study featured a questionnaire based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults.
• Online Public Consultation Survey (M-CO, 2022). An online questionnaire was held for six weeks and received more than 3,000 responses.
• Deliberative Dialogue (M-CO, 2022). This two-day, online citizens’ assembly style event involved a representative sample of 99 people debating and deliberating the future of forestry in Ireland.
• Assessment of the Attitudes of Communities and Interested Parties (Irish Rural Link, 2022). This study focused on the impact forests have on local communities. It featured an online questionnaire, a series of focus groups, and a comparative study on forest practices in Ireland, Finland and Scotland.
Assessment of the Attitudes of Communities and Interested Parties, Irish Rural Link
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• Youth Forum (Foróige, 2022). A youth dialogue was held in January 2022 to assess the attitudes of young people to trees and forests.
• Bilateral Meetings with Stakeholders. The Department held individual meetings with 27 key stakeholders between November 2021 and June 2022. Details of the key findings from these meetings are available in the Summary Report above.
The Forest Policy Group is a group of stakeholders who are working to develop new strategy for forestry in Ireland. The new group is made up of members from a wide range of organisations from the forestry sector including nursery, sawmill and contractor representation, as well as environmental NGOs, and representatives from community, farmers and growers. In addition, a range of relevant State bodies are also participating in the group.
For more information, see Forest Policy Group page.
We issue regular circulars to registered foresters and stakeholders to inform them of detailed provisions of forestry strategy and policy.