Forestry Council Report February 2026
Market Review
The Forestry Weekly Dashboard showed that as of the end of January, 349 hectares of new forest have been planted and 29km of forest roads constructed. Afforestation licences issued to establish 8,766 hectares under the Afforestation scheme and 664 hectares under the Native Tree Area scheme. 125private felling licences issued compared with 23 Coillte felling licences.
Activity since last National Council
Board of Forest Certification Ireland
The Board of Forest Certification Ireland was established in 2025. The objective of Forest Certification Ireland is to significantly scale up the area of private forests certified. The National Certification structures established will take account of the Business plan prepared by the industry-led working group in 2024. The Department will provide resources such as the secretariate to the Board for the first 2 years once established. The level of funding available from the Department will be agreed once the board is established.
The inaugural meeting of the Board took place on 16th December 2025. The Board will meet formally for a minimum of four Board meetings per annum or as often as required and as necessary to carry out the prescribed functions. The schedule of meetings and frequency will be determined by the Independent Chairperson. Additional working groups with members from the Board may be established, at the discretion of the Independent Chairperson.
Department Forest Windblow taskforce.
A €55 million Reconstitution scheme for Windblow was announced in December.
The scheme offers planting grants, paid in two instalments, similar to those available under the
afforestation scheme. The scheme document can now be found on the Department’s website Reconstitution Scheme for Windblow 2026. However, the scheme is not open for applications to date.
Bark Beetle
Over recent months, DAFM said it continued to engage closely with its Scottish and Northern Ireland counterparts.
- IFA Farm Forestry Committee meeting took place in the Irish Farm Centre on 12th November.
- IFA Clare held its annual Foresty meeting on 25th November.
- IFA attended DAFM Forest Strategy Consultative Committee (FSCC) meeting on 16th December.
- IFA Farm Forestry attended the Land Leaders Forum, 20th January.
- IFA Farm Forestry Chair attended Forestry Industry Transport Group meeting, 30th January.
Upcoming issues
- IFA Farm Forestry committee meeting to take place in the Irish Farm Centre, 11th February.
