Forestry damage at a farm in Co. Meath.
Wedoany.com Report-Feb 21, After Storm Éowyn, a preliminary satellite assessment by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, alongside Coillte, estimates that approximately 23,625 hectares of Irish forestry have been damaged. This figure reflects the total area of affected forests across the country, with data broken down to both national and provincial levels. Connacht has emerged as the hardest-hit province, aligning with initial expectations.
The damage shows a near-equal distribution between public and private forests. Around 10 million cubic metres of timber are believed to be impacted, mostly within spruce plantations over 20 years old. For context, Ireland’s forests yielded 4.3 million cubic metres of timber throughout 2023, less than half the volume affected by the storm.
Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Michael Healy-Rae, commented: “While we have known from information supplied to us from forest owners and forestry companies that the damage levels were going to be well in excess of the damage from Storm Darwin (2014). This is the first statistically valid national assessment, and I wish to thank all those who have been part of putting it together. I understand that a more detailed analysis is also underway that will give a forest-by-forest assessment with a much greater degree of accuracy.”
The Forest Windblow Taskforce, scheduled to convene for its third meeting next week, will review this report as part of its ongoing evaluation of necessary measures. The department noted that the taskforce aims to address the situation comprehensively.
Minister Healy-Rae stated: “The taskforce has got off to a very good start. To date we have clarified that existing clearfelling and thinning licences can be used to deal with windblown situations immediately, as well as what needs to be done by forest owners to prioritise their licensing applications where a licence is not already to hand.” He further remarked: “We have organisations around the table representing forest owner groups, sawmillers, forestry companies, IFA, Teagasc, Coillte and my department. Having more than twice the annual cut on the ground represents an enormous challenge, but I have been impressed with the energy and commitment around the table to tackle every issue that this challenge presents.”
He also emphasized support for those affected, saying: “I would also like to repeat what I have said on numerous occasions; this is a very difficult time for forest owners, but they can be absolutely assured that they are, and will, continue to be, at the centre of all of our deliberations at every meeting of the taskforce.” The minister’s remarks underline the collaborative effort underway to address the storm’s impact on Ireland’s forestry sector, ensuring accurate data and practical solutions remain the focus.
