Should farmers think differently about forestry?

Changing the mindset of farmers will be key to developing vibrant forestry and woodland development sectors into the future.

This was one of the key messages delivered by Aoife Smith, from Northern Ireland’s Forest Service, courtesy of her presentation to a recent tree production and planting conference.

The event was held at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise’s (CAFRE’s) Greenmount campus in Co. Antrim.

According to Smith: “Forestry development and food production are wholly complimentary land use activities.”

The Forest Service representative added that a new Tree Planting Action Plan can be used to significantly increase woodland and forest cover in Northern Ireland.

She confirmed that the initiative, launched earlier this year, had been developed through a process of collaboration, involving all the stakeholders involved with the various tree planting and land use development sectors.

This grouping of organisations includes the Ulster Farmers Union.

Speaking at the recent forestry and tree planting event, hosted by CAFRE at its Greenmount campus, (l-r): Gregor Fulton, National Trust; John Hetherington, Premier Woodlands; Rodrigo Olave, AFBI; Aoife Smith, Forest Service; David Dowd, CAFRE; Konstantinos Xyntaris, CAFRE

The new scheme has the aim of increasing woodland cover in Northern Ireland from the current figure of 9% up to 12% by 2050.

This will entail the planting of 2,500ha of new woodland and forest per annum over the coming years. The current figure is in the region of 400ha.

“All new plantations must be developed on a sustainable basis.

“In other words, they must deliver from a commercial, societal and environmental perspective,” Smith said.

Recent woodland development projects in Northern Ireland have confirmed a willingness on the part of landowners to focus on the planting of native broadleaf tree species.

“And this trend is likely to be maintained,” Smith commented.

Protecting saplings

It is envisaged that new technologies will be applied to ensure that new woodland sites get the best possible starts.

Figures recently compiles in England confirmed that 50% of bare rooted saplings planted out last autumn and winter did not survive the recent drought.

One way around this problem is to plant seeds in cells, which facilitate the development of stronger rooting systems.

Placing a focus on the use of native broadleaves within future woodland and forestry creation projects brings into focus the role for ash trees in this context.

And here the news is not as bad as many had been predicting a number of years ago.

It has recently been confirmed that up to 30% of Irish populations could be resistant to the threat of ash dieback disease.

This leaves the way open for the active planting of disease-resistant seeds into the future.

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