Six years into the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA’s) key forestry development project for Northern Ireland, tree planting rates have been much lower than originally anticipated.
Set up in March 2020, the Forests for our Future Programme set a key target: to plant 18 million trees and create 9,000ha of new woodland by 2030.
This was in the context of the ongoing nature and climate crises and the important role of woodlands as nature-based solutions.
However, while woodland planting rates have increased since the programme’s launch, progress remains well below the level required to meet the 9,000ha target.
By the end of 2025, 2,016ha of new woodland have been created through the Small Woodland Grant Scheme and the Forest Expansion Scheme, less than a quarter of the overall goal at the programme’s midpoint.
Bog restoration
Meanwhile, DAERA has committed to bog restoration on land within its remit that was previously planted out in trees.
Many in the private woodland development sector are of the view that bog restoration acts to bring about a net reduction in Northern Ireland’s overall woodland cover.
This was an issue referenced in a series of written questions from Stormont’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee chair, Robbie Butler MLA to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir.
The issues detailed in the series of communications included those of bogland restoration and the sale of windfall timber in the wake of Storm Éowyn, which impacted the UK and Ireland during January 2025.
Where bogland restoration is concerned, Muir confirmed that over the past five years, his department has commissioned operations, including with partners, to restore peatland habitats on a total of 1,073ha of the Forest Service estate.
He added: “This includes 151ha of coniferous plantation that has now been harvested and restoration works are ongoing.
“Restoration works have taken place on a further 922ha, which has included the removal of self-seeded conifer trees and re-wetting operations.”
The minister added that the Climate Action Plan includes “taking forward” restoration of degraded peat lands on the Forest Service estate.
“In the current budget period of 2023-2027, 381ha of afforested land and 1,007ha of degraded peatlands have been scheduled for restoration, of which 103ha and 587ha respectively has been commissioned,” he outlined.
Storm Éowyn
Where Storm Éowyn is concerned, Minister Muir indicated that his department’s Forest Service has, to date, sold 490,000m3 of timber from 1,020ha of wind-damaged conifer plantation since the weather event.
“The harvesting operations have been completed on 980ha and timber haulage is ongoing,” he added.