The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has described the establishment of the Group Forest Certification Ireland Board as a positive development for the Irish forestry sector.

The announcement follows the board’s inaugural meeting this week, which included forestry policy executive Amy Mulchrone, appointed by forestry minister Michael Healy-Rae.

IFA farm forestry chair Padraig Stapleton said, “The establishment of the Group Forest Certification Ireland board is a positive initiative by the minister. The increased focus on voluntary certification of privately-owned forests that this board will now hopefully bring should significantly scale up the area certified.”

Currently, only 8% of privately-owned forests in Ireland are certified, markedly lower than Coillte plantations, which hold dual certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme of Forest Certification (PEFC).

At the meeting, the Department of Agriculture presented its new electronic management plan system, iPlan, designed to standardise management plans. All eligible forest owners can apply for €1,200 per management plan under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027, with plans being a mandatory requirement for certification.

Mr Stapleton added, “The national certification structures will take account of the business plan already prepared by an industry-led working group established on the issue in 2024, in which IFA was actively involved. The business plan reflects those discussions, including the opportunities, challenges, and proposed solutions to fund and create a certification scheme for private forestry owners.”

The Department will provide resources, including a secretariat, to the board for two years. The specific level of funding will be confirmed once the board chairperson is appointed.

Learn how the Group Forest Certification Ireland Board is set to reshape forestry practices in Ireland in the full story.

Photo credits to Lukasz Szmigiel/Unsplash