Thinning licences valid for clearing windblow forests

MAYO IFA's farm forestry rep, John Ger Davitt, has welcomed Minister Michael Healy-Rae’s decision to allow existing felling licences to be valid for clearing windblow forests.

“This is a significant development in our efforts to salvage timber from farm forests impacted by Storm Éowyn,” he said.

“Professional trained contractors can now clear and remove windblow trees in line with the existing conditions attached to the licences, where safe to do so.”

Mr. Davitt further explained: “Forest owners with thinning-only felling licences can now submit the notification to the following email address - felling.forestservice@agriculture.gov.ie. Include in the subject line ‘Notification of storm utilisation of thinning licence’.

“The replanting obligation must be adhered to. DAFM has issued a six-month window whereby all replanting information must be sent to the same email address as above, after the works are carried out.”