7 Common Misconceptions About Forestry

1. Forestry is only conifer trees

Most large forests will have a mixture of conifers and broadleaves. When planting conifers now, there is a 20% broadleaf requirement (up from 15% previously). This is a condition of the grant system. There are also plenty of forest types (FT) that are only broadleaves and these have a higher premium per year. Forestry is a commercial activity and during Covid 19 lockdown, forestry was an essential service. We need timber for construction and as an alternative for plastic in making other products. Timber is a sustainable product and good for the environment as trees gives off oxygen. Trees are considered the lungs of the world. Although broadleaved trees do have a greater biodiversity value, conifers are still the main type for commercial timber production in Ireland.

2. It’s either farmland or forestry land

When studying forestry in college, you have an ordinary degree in forestry and then you have an honours degree in Land Management (Forestry). Forestry is a land use, like dairy, beef or tillage. Forests need to be managed in order to produce a valuable commercial crop, just like all other land uses. However, why put all your eggs in the same basket. Diversification is how land owners protect their assets and spread risk. Farming and forestry can be easily managed on the same farm enterprise. They should complement each other; livestock create methane and forestry can lock away carbon. Agroforestry can be a double land use, trees and livestock. The DAFM have increased the number of years the premium is paid from five to ten years for Agroforestry. This makes Agroforestry a much more attractive scheme now. It can be used for livestock, tillage, poultry and cutting silage. The spacing is normally five metres apart and this allows a mower to fit between the lines of trees.

‍
3. Forestry is difficult to establish

From the decision to plant to harvesting your mature crop, advice and management is always available through your local forester. Other advisory bodies such as Teagasc and forest owner groups are active throughout the country. A quick Google search on the DAFM website will bring up the list of registered foresters (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/205869-list-of-registered-foresters/ ).

Have a look at this YouTube channel, Let’s Talk Forestry (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyU3fyDjnc_bBlg8MXg9HfQ), where Irish forest owners are interviewed and talk honestly about their experiences with forestry. These monthly videos take you from the decision to plant right up to timber end uses.

The DAFM have plenty of grant schemes to cater for most landowner’s needs. However, one of the difficulties is the length of time it takes to get the paperwork through for a grant application for afforestation. The reason it can take so long is the number of bodies the application has to be considered by, the most common being Archaeology, Fisheries and protected birds such as breeding waders. Although the Forest Service are working hard to get the waiting times down for approvals, it still can take months. Plan ahead, get your application in early and respond to the Forest Service’s request for further information as soon as possible.

4. Trees have little commercial value

Timber is a valuable product which you will pay a high price for at your local hardware store. But how do forest owners get timber in the round, freshly cut from the forest to a useable product. Conifers like Sitka spruce grow to commercial maturity in about 35 years. Then you can harvest your crop and have it hauled to the nearest sawmill to be planked. There are two main ways to sell your trees, standing or roadside. The most popular is standing as this requires the seller to harvest the crop. Forest owners often use the small diameter products for their own use as firewood, particularly with small areas of broadleaf thinnings. Hardwood can be expensive to buy for firewood. Trees are a large bulky product and as such the cost of haulage is a big factor in getting the product to a mill to be turned into planked timber ready for use. While thinnings produce small diameter roundwood, final harvest will have more sawlog which commands a much higher price. To get the biggest return per hectare, wait until your forest is mature and then benefit from the higher value product.

5. You need to be a forestry expert to manage your forest

Just like in any business, there are people who want to manage the operation themselves and those who want to hire a forester to do it for them. Both these options are available. However, when the forested area is very large, it may require a bit commitment from the forest owner. For the small one-hectare areas, it then becomes practical for the forest owner to take a more hands on approach. Remember foresters talk in hectares and farmers refer to land in acres (1 hectare = 2.47105 acres). KTG groups funded by the DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and run by forestry groups with a forester as facilitator are a good way to increase your knowledge on how to manage your forest. Contact your local forester, forestry company or group to book your place on a KTG in your local area.

6. Planting trees doesn’t make financial sense.

In Ireland we have generous grants for tree planting and some forest maintenance operations as the crop matures. The cost of planting, fencing and the young trees are grant aided. A forester is required to make the grant application. After planting is completed, you can then draw down on the premium which is paid annually. This premium is the first revenue stream for the forest owner. The next revenue stream comes from thinning the crop as it matures. Finally, the big pay out comes when you fell your mature trees, this is called harvesting.

7. Only farmers near retirement age plant trees

There is a saying in the forestry industry, when asked what is the best time to plant trees, the answer is 20 years ago. Any forest owner will agree with this statement, especially when they are harvesting. If a crop of conifers matures in about 35 years, retirement age is roughly 65, then that means a landowner would be 30 when they plant the trees. Pension fund investors often put their money into forestry as it represents a low-risk steady return on their investment.

Summary

Misconceptions about forestry can be overcome with a little knowledge and understanding. Forestry is essential for the health of our planet. Ireland has gone from an historic high of roughly 90% forest cover down to 11% now. With climate change becoming more evident in our changing weather patterns across the globe, everyone should try to do their part to mitigate climate change. How can you do this, plant a tree today and enjoy the benefits it will provide for many years to come!