Supports for forest owners impacted by recent storms
A series of events aimed at supporting forest owners impacted by Storm Darragh and Storm Éowyn will take place during April.
Teagasc is hosting two post-storm timber harvesting events and Talking Timber, a post-storm conifer timber marketing event.
On-site demonstrations on managing forestry storm damage, focusing on harvesting of timber and planning for forest restoration, will take place in Mountbellew, County Galway on Tuesday, April 1 and Castlerea, County Roscommon on Tuesday, April 8.
The final in the series of events, Teagasc’s annual timber marketing seminar, takes place will take place at the Clayton Hotel, County Sligo on Tuesday April 15.
Talking Timber, organised in association with the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) and Forest Industries Ireland, will address the harvest and marketing of timber in the aftermath of Storms Darragh and Éowyn.
Tom Houlihan, Acting Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department said, “Talking Timber will be a combination of an outdoor timber display, short conference along with a forest industry expo. Our priority is the provision of advice on appropriate post-storm planning and responses to maximise the forest potential for impacted owners.”
Pre-registration is required for each event.
Storm Éowyn on January 24th destroyed 23,625 hectares of forestry, leading to €500million in losses for commercial timber companies.
Insurance payments as a result of the damage caused by the storm are likely to be the highest on record, surpassing €300million.
Meanwhile, the Irish government is urging forest owners affected by the recent storms to progress their applications for a felling licence.
Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae confirmed that 63% of affected forests have licences in place already, with another 11% in the system prioritised for processing.
