Leitrim Public Particip Leitrim County C Ph: 0 www.leitrimppn.ie Leitrim Forestry – A Lei Give us your views (with s Your anonymous contribut work to strengthen its fore About Forestry in Leitri Nearly 19% of the total la heavily forested county. F nothing alters a landscape afforestation. Such plantin authority. Leitrim County Council wil which will include a review Development Plan 2015-2 strategic policy committee voluntary, social inclusion representatives on this co these policies. About this questionnair There are seven sections i each topic, but it is import views - the council can use personally held opinions. Please don’t hesitate to in please. Return by email to info@lei marked Leitrim PPN. pation Network Líonra Rannpháirtíochta Poibl Council, Aras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leit 071 96 20005 ext 544 Mob: 087 183 1253 ALWAYS KNO itrim PPN Position supporting facts and figures) on forestr tion will be used to assist Leitrim Count estry policy in 2019. im and of Leitrim is forested, making it Irel Forestry is a valuable and well establishe e and a rural population more radically ng is largely outside of the control of th ll review the county development plan i w of its forestry policy (Policy 5 of the C 2021). The proposed forestry policy will e (SPC) before it is considered by the co and environmental groups in Leitrim h ommittee, and with your help they can h re in this questionnaire. We'd like to hear tant that you include some reasons why e evidence-based recommendations mo nclude more pages if required. Mark the itrimppn.ie or by post to the address belo lí Liatroma trim OW YOUR EIRCODE ry in Leitrim. ty Council's own land's most hed industry, but than large scale he local in early 2019, County be brought to a ouncil. The have help influence your views on y you hold those ore than e section clearly ow clearly
Transcript
Leitrim Public Participation Network
Leitrim County Council, Aras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon, Co LeitrimPh: 071 96 20005 ext 544
www.leitrimppn.ie
Leitrim Forestry – A Leitrim PPN Position
Give us your views (with supporting facts and figures) on forestry in Leitrim. Your anonymous contribution will be used to assist Leitrim County work to strengthen its forestry policy in 2019.
About Forestry in LeitrimNearly 19% of the total land of Leitrim is forested, making it Ireland's most heavily forested county. Forestry is a valuable and well established industry, but nothing alters a landscape and a rural population more radically than large scale afforestation. Such planting is largely outside of the control of the local authority.
Leitrim County Council will review the county development plan in early 2019, which will include a review of its forestry policy (Policy 5 of the County Development Plan 2015-2021). The proposed forestry policy will be brought to a strategic policy committee (SPC) before it is considered by the council. The voluntary, social inclusion and environmrepresentatives on this committee, and with your help they can help influence these policies.
About this questionnaireThere are seven sections in this questionnaire. We'd like to hear your views on each topic, but it is importviews - the council can use evidencepersonally held opinions.
Please don’t hesitate to include more pagesplease.
im Public Participation Network Líonra Rannpháirtíochta Poiblí Liatroma
Leitrim County Council, Aras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon, Co LeitrimPh: 071 96 20005 ext 544 Mob: 087 183 1253
ALWAYS KNOW YOUR EIRCODE
A Leitrim PPN Position
Give us your views (with supporting facts and figures) on forestry in Leitrim. Your anonymous contribution will be used to assist Leitrim County work to strengthen its forestry policy in 2019.
About Forestry in Leitrim Nearly 19% of the total land of Leitrim is forested, making it Ireland's most heavily forested county. Forestry is a valuable and well established industry, but
alters a landscape and a rural population more radically than large scale afforestation. Such planting is largely outside of the control of the local
Leitrim County Council will review the county development plan in early 2019, ude a review of its forestry policy (Policy 5 of the County
2021). The proposed forestry policy will be brought to a strategic policy committee (SPC) before it is considered by the council. The voluntary, social inclusion and environmental groups in Leitrim have representatives on this committee, and with your help they can help influence
About this questionnaire There are seven sections in this questionnaire. We'd like to hear your views on each topic, but it is important that you include some reasons why you hold those
the council can use evidence-based recommendations more than
lease don’t hesitate to include more pages if required. Mark the section clearly
Leitrim County Council, Aras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim
ALWAYS KNOW YOUR EIRCODE
Give us your views (with supporting facts and figures) on forestry in Leitrim. Your anonymous contribution will be used to assist Leitrim County Council's own
Nearly 19% of the total land of Leitrim is forested, making it Ireland's most heavily forested county. Forestry is a valuable and well established industry, but
alters a landscape and a rural population more radically than large scale afforestation. Such planting is largely outside of the control of the local
Leitrim County Council will review the county development plan in early 2019, ude a review of its forestry policy (Policy 5 of the County
2021). The proposed forestry policy will be brought to a strategic policy committee (SPC) before it is considered by the council. The
ental groups in Leitrim have representatives on this committee, and with your help they can help influence
There are seven sections in this questionnaire. We'd like to hear your views on ant that you include some reasons why you hold those
based recommendations more than
. Mark the section clearly
or by post to the address below clearly
Page 2 of 12
1. Rural Economy Leitrim the most rural county in Ireland. It has the most people living in rural areas (90%) and the lowest population density (21 people per km2). And while urban economies have more similarities than differences, rural areas tend to be highly distinctive from one another.
What does Leitrim's rural economy depend on? How much local
resource (land, traders) does a rural population depend on? How does
forestry contribute or detract from the rural economy? What role
should forestry play in the rural economy? Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
2. Land Use When land is planted with forestry, it must be replanted after the trees are felled, so once land is forested it cannot be used for any other purpose for decades. Ireland’s forest industry has changed from the single goal of timber production to the modern approach of multiple use, such as construction, energy, tourism, biodiversity, and carbon storage.Most land in Leitrim is deemed to be "marginal", meaning that it is less productive for agriculture than other parts of the country. It is the primary criteria for planting - any area that is not above 300m or near a lake/riverside landscape is deemed to have a "high capacity" for forestry.The Forest Service (part of the Department omakes no differentiation between farmers and nonpremium payable under the afforestation scheme 2014
Forest Cover in Leitrim
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When land is planted with forestry, it must be replanted after the trees are felled, so once land is forested it cannot be used for any other purpose for
industry has changed from the single goal of timber production to the modern approach of multiple use, such as construction, energy, tourism, biodiversity, and carbon storage. Most land in Leitrim is deemed to be "marginal", meaning that it is less
ive for agriculture than other parts of the country. It is the primary any area that is not above 300m or near a lake/riverside
landscape is deemed to have a "high capacity" for forestry. The Forest Service (part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine) makes no differentiation between farmers and non-farmers in relation to the premium payable under the afforestation scheme 2014-2020.
Forest Cover in Leitrim
When land is planted with forestry, it must be replanted after the trees are felled, so once land is forested it cannot be used for any other purpose for
industry has changed from the single goal of timber production to the modern approach of multiple use, such as construction,
Most land in Leitrim is deemed to be "marginal", meaning that it is less ive for agriculture than other parts of the country. It is the primary
any area that is not above 300m or near a lake/riverside
f Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine) farmers in relation to the
Page 4 of 12
How do you think land should be used to benefit the people of Leitrim?
In your view, what makes an area suitable - or unsuitable - for forestry?
What kind of forestry do you think would be suitable? What kind of
uses do you think Leitrim is best suited to? Do you think the forest
service policy mentioned above impacts on land use and land
ownership in the county? What are these impacts?
Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
3. Planning Forestry is exempted from the requirement for planning when the proposed development is above 50 hectares (but only because these large developments require an Environmental Impact Assessment). The application process and consenting of forestry is regulated by the Forest Act 2014 and accompanying regulations, in which the local authority has a limited consultative role, but not a decisionreferred to the local authority for specific considerations relating to water quality, designated habitats, arc
Ground for Referral to the Local Authority
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Forestry is exempted from the requirement for planning permission, except when the proposed development is above 50 hectares (but only because these large developments require an Environmental Impact Assessment). The application process and consenting of forestry is regulated by the Forest Act
nying regulations, in which the local authority has a limited consultative role, but not a decision-making one. Currently, applications that are referred to the local authority for specific considerations relating to water quality, designated habitats, archaeology, landscape, and size of development:
Ground for Referral to the Local Authority
permission, except when the proposed development is above 50 hectares (but only because these large developments require an Environmental Impact Assessment). The application process and consenting of forestry is regulated by the Forest Act
nying regulations, in which the local authority has a limited making one. Currently, applications that are
referred to the local authority for specific considerations relating to water haeology, landscape, and size of development:
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Do you think that forestry should be subject to planning by the local
authority, and if so, how? If the forest service retains its current
control, what role should a local authority have to manage land use in
their area? On what additional grounds should the forest service be
required to consult the council? Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
Page 7 of 12
3. Regulation Forestry regulation is largely based on guidelines and codes of practice. It is largely up to the practitioner to adhere to the guidelines. Monitoring and enforcement are the responsibility of the Forest Service Inspectorate.
Do you think the regulations and guidelines are the right ones? Is better
enforcement required or does it need to change?
Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
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4. Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Some land in Leitrim is a natural carbon sink, and so is as effective as forestry. As the dry summer of 2018 demonstrated, Leitrim's clay-based, water retentive soils might be more productive for agriculture in the future and help offset losses in fertility and fodder production elsewhere. Ireland obligations are national, so it is up to policy makers to decide how to allocate sequestration projects within Ireland to meet its obligations, in which balanced regional development of forestry is not a priority.
How can we leverage the natural carbon sequestration in Leitrim to
contribute to our climate change targets? Is the current approach to
afforestation the most effective one? What other approaches would be
better in your view?
Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
Page 9 of 12
5.Taxation and State Supports There are a range of tax incentives designed to encourage investment. The profits from the occupation of woodland in the state which is managed on a commercial basis are exempt from income and corporation tax, and commercial forestry is regarded as "farming activities" for tax purposes. For Capital Acquisition Tax, the value of standing timber is not taken into account - these arrangements are encouraging aggressive afforestation of some parts of Ireland particularly where land prices are lower, and allow large international corporations to compete directly with small farmers in the purchase of land. Recent analysis published in Irish Forestry (an internationally peer-reviewed journal publishing forestry research articles) shows that low-income farms could actually be worse-off as a result of planting.
What, if not "investment", should the primary objective of tax policy on
forestry be? How would you strike a balance between the various
interests who wish to engage in forestry in Leitrim? Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
Page 10 of 12
6. Biodiversity A large component of Irish biodiversity is associated with forest habitats, and much of this biodiversity is dependent upon areas of closed-canopy tree cover. However, another important component of biodiversity in forest plantations is the flora and fauna associated with open space habitats within forests. Many coniferous plantation forests in Ireland are generally darker than the natural broadleaf forests and have been found to lack elements of biodiversity associated with open spaces and less dense canopies in natural forest. Many of the characteristic forest species remaining in Ireland are, strictly speaking, species of forest edges and glades, rather than forest interior species. In intensively farmed landscapes, open spaces within forests may provide a suitable habitat for species characteristic of semi-natural open habitats, which no longer occur within the surrounding landscape. A 2014 paper looking at forestry in Belgium suggests that mixed species stands might contribute to higher biological diversity, more resistance and resilience to disturbances and higher carbon storage.
Forest practitioners need to consider biodiversity and socioeconomic
contexts where land is being planted. Do you believe this occurs in
current Irish policy and how do you think that might be achieved? Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
Page 11 of 12
7. Social Impacts It is generally agreed that forestry has a positive impact on mental health. However, this is true only in relation to deciduous forests and trees. Trees which change through the seasons and years and which allow light through their foliage is a beautiful and contemplative sight and one of the most arresting images in a forest. In 2014 the Woodlands for Health project was evaluated by the HSE and University College Dublin. This found that participants improved their mood by 75 per cent and sleep by 66 per cent; in addition, their thoughts of suicide declined by 82 per cent. This impact has been noted in other studies, where subjects have access to forests. Forestry in Leitrim is not accessible to individuals and the close planting makes it very difficult to use as an amenity. Government policy on forestry seeks "to develop an internationally competitive and sustainable forest sector that provides a full range of economic, environmental and social benefits to society and which accords with the principles of sustainable forest management."
What do you think the social benefits of forestry are? Do you think
the forestry in Leitrim is designed to provide these benefits, or is in
reality providing these benefits?
Your Answer:
What evidence supports your view? Your Answer:
About me You may wish to remain anonymous, but if not you can include your name and the organisation you are associated with.
