Farming: Forest Windblow Taskforce announced
David Connors, chairperson of Waterford Forest Owners Group, pictured in a wind-blown forest.
Following the recent storms, Storm Darragh and Storm Éowyn, and noting that many forests have been windblown around the country, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae TD, have invited key stakeholders to join Department officials on a taskforce to ensure that storm-damaged forests are managed safely and appropriately.
Minister Heydon stated: “This is a difficult time for forest owners that have been affected by the storm. This taskforce will lead a coordinated response comprising all stakeholders from across the sector.”
Minister Heydon added: “The ESB has done tremendous work over the last few days, and I know Coillte has provided staff and equipment to help in their efforts to restore power and assisted Local Authorities in the road clearance operations.
“In relation to trees falling on ESB lines, my Department officials will be engaging directly with the ESB shortly to discuss the issues around forests in the vicinity of ESB lines.”
Minister Healy-Rae stated: “We have all seen with our own eyes the devastation that was caused by the recent storms, particularly Storm Éowyn. What I would like to do is to ensure, through my work in the Department and through the establishment of this dedicated Taskforce, that whatever needs to be done is done in a co-ordinated way, and that the needs of forest owners will be central as we determine what needs to be done.”
The Taskforce established by the Ministers will comprise stakeholders representing forest owners, forestry companies, Teagasc and Coillte.
It will inform the Department’s, and the wider sector’s, response to the storms, with particular emphasis on dealing safely with the large areas of forest that have been blown down.
This will include a plan around the prioritisation of felling licences in respect of storm damage, and an examination of any issues that arise in relation to the harvesting, haulage and sawmilling of the blown trees.
Minister Healy-Rae continued: “It is important that, at as early a stage as possible, we get an assessment of the damage nationally.
“I understand that Coillte and my Department have already begun the task of assessing this damage using satellite imagery, which will provide information nationally and at forest level.
“I am aware that guidance has issued to forest owners through my Department and Teagasc, with the emphasis at this early stage on safety, the importance of not rushing in, and of getting advice.”
The advice Waterford Forest Owners Group is getting from experts on recent storms has once again highlighted the need for landowners and forest owners to be wind blow aware, and to know what to do in the event a storm damages their plantation.
If you experience wind blow, the most important advice is not to rush into any decisions but to make a step-by-step plan to minimise risk and maximise the salvage, the group said.
Most forests, despite being blown, can have considerable timber value. Market the windblown timber and get professional advice on current prices. Joining a forest owner group to sell your timber could provide you with scale and increased efficiency. It may also reduce costs, thereby maximising salvage value.
The group emphasised to always think safety first.
