4 November 2008
The country's limited woodland resource was, once again, in the spotlight thanks to a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly on the Executive’s headline woodland creation targets. See the Woodland Trust's response and read the official report from the Assembly debate.

Response to Northern Ireland Forestry Strategy (November 2006) -

In 2006 the Agriculture Minister published his vision for forestry in the form of a new strategy entitled ‘Northern Ireland Forestry - A Strategy for Sustainability and Growth’. The Woodland Trust, while welcoming a number of the proposals, has identified key concerns. PDF | Word doc

Woodland in Northern Ireland: setting the scene

Trees and woods are crucial to sustaining life on our planet. They generate oxygen, filter pollutants from the air, and provide a sanctuary for our wildlife. They also offer us peace and tranquillity, providing a means of escape from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life.

The facts
Northern Ireland is one of the least wooded regions in Europe, with a mere 6.4 per cent woodland cover, compared to the European average of 44 per cent. Furthermore, most of this cover is coniferous, meaning that our native, broadleaved woodland occupies only 1.2% of the Northern Ireland landscape.
Northern Ireland’s ancient woodland (land that has been continuously wooded since at least 1600) is particularly scarce. It has been gradually whittled down to isolated fragments and today covers only 0.08 per cent of the landscape.

Woodland Trust Vision
The Woodland Trust is committed to redressing this situation. The Trust’s vision is one of a greatly expanded woodland resource, easily accessible to people and providing a robust habitat for wildlife.

Woodland in Northern Ireland: making change happen

In order to achieve our vision for woodland in Northern Ireland, the Trust will concentrate its effort on four vital issues:

• Protection for ancient woodland: Ancient woodland is one of our richest wildlife habitats, our equivalent of the rainforest, yet remains under threat from development. Today only 9,964 hectares of ancient and long-established woodland remain in the whole of Northern Ireland. The Woodland Trust is calling for the Northern Ireland Executive to afford absolute legislative protection to all sites identified on the Trust’s Ancient Woodland Inventory
   
• Felling licences: The Trust is calling for increased protection for all woodland through the re-introduction of felling licences. Northern Ireland remains the only country in the UK where felling licences are not employed to control the felling of woodland.
   
• Woodland expansion: The Woodland Trust welcomes the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s intention to double Northern Ireland’s woodland cover over the next 50 years. The Trust, however, wants to see a clear strategy for this expansion, including targets for the rate and location of new planting. In particular, there is a need for new woodland which buffers and protects our remaining fragments of ancient woodland, providing extended wildlife habitats.
   
• Access and recreation: New woodland creation should also be targeted where there is currently a lack of public access. Trees, woods and green spaces offer demonstrable health benefits, facilitating both physical and mental well-being.

The Trust will use its experience and authority in conservation to influence others, including the Executive, to make change happen. In the coming months the Trust will centre its advocacy work around the forthcoming Forestry Act, the review of PPS 2 (a Planning Policy Statement which contains planning guidance on trees and woodland) and the Review of the Regional Development Strategy:

Legislative change
The Woodland Trust welcomes the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development’s announcement of a new Forestry Act coming before the Assembly in spring 2009. This is the first major piece of forestry legislation in Northern Ireland for over 50 years and represents an opportunity to deliver forestry management fit for the challenges of the 21st century. We wish to see the new legislation achieve the following outcomes:

• Forest Service afforded legislative competence to deliver forest management to reflect the needs of both wildlife and people.
• Re-introduction of felling licences.
• A commitment to the protection, restoration, management and expansion of native woodland in the Province.
• Specific targeted incentives for better management and expansion of native and ancient woods.

Revision of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 2
Planning guidance on trees and woodland is contained within Planning Policy Statement 2. In view of the need to strengthen protection for trees and woodland in Northern Ireland, PPS2 should be updated to include the following:

• A recognition of the substantial historical loss of woodland in Northern Ireland, and its current position as one of the least wooded regions in Europe.
• Recognition of the need to conserve ancient and mature trees and woodland, which provide the richest terrestrial habitat for wildlife.
• All ancient and long-established woodland to be designated for protection and shown on Area Plans.
• A requirement on new development to include not only ‘green spaces’ but ‘wooded areas’ within 10 miles of every home in the province.

The Regional Development Strategy
The Department for Regional Development is reviewing its Regional Development Strategy to learn from the past and prepare a new strategy which is fit for purpose. An updated strategy should recognise the following:

• The need to protect woodland habitats in order that this resource continues to support the ecosystem services upon which Northern Ireland is dependent.
• Ancient trees and all woods on the Ancient Woodland Inventory should be given absolute protection from development.
• Woodland creation to be included in plans for new development in order to provide accessible multifunctional green space for both people and wildlife.

For further information on the above, contact Patrick Cregg of the Woodland Trust on 028 9127 5787.