Ireland’s forestry policy is back in focus as gov.ie highlights a major public consultation on forestry led by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The consultation invites citizens, landowners, environmental groups, businesses and rural stakeholders to help shape both Ireland’s Draft Forest Strategy and the plan designed to put that strategy into action.
Published originally in March 2022 and updated on 5 August 2026, the consultation is an important step in defining how Ireland will manage afforestation, biodiversity, climate resilience and the long-term future of the forestry sector. It also connects to wider national priorities across Climate Action, Agriculture, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Rural and Community Development.
Public Consultation on Forestry: What Is Being Reviewed?
The public consultation on forestry is split into two distinct parts:
- Part 1: Feedback on Ireland’s Draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan, alongside the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and the Appropriate Assessment (AA) Natura Impact Report.
- Part 2: Feedback on Ireland’s Draft Forest Strategy itself.
Together, these documents set out the vision and practical measures intended to guide Irish forestry policy into the coming decades. The implementation plan outlines the actions needed to make the national forestry vision a reality, including the Forestry Programme 2023–2027, which acts as the main short-term delivery mechanism.
Why the Implementation Plan Matters
The implementation plan is more than an administrative document. It is effectively the roadmap for how the State intends to reach its shared forest vision for 2050. That includes balancing timber production, environmental protection, land use planning and rural economic development. Agencies and public bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), An Bord Pleanála, Tailte Éireann and the Office of Public Works (OPW) all sit within the wider policy landscape that influences forestry outcomes.
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How the Forestry Licensing Process Works
A key section of the public consultation on forestry page also explains how public input fits into forestry licensing. The Department notes that the public is consulted throughout the licensing process, including applications relating to:
- Felling
- Afforestation
- Forest roads
- Aerial fertilisation
There are also consultation routes for forestry licence applications that require an Environmental Impact Assessment procedure and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report. This is particularly relevant for communities, environmental advocates and landowners seeking transparency around local developments.
Forestry Licence Viewer and Register of Decisions
To improve access to information, the Department provides the Forestry Licence Viewer (FLV), an online mapping tool that allows users to search forestry licence applications by reference number, browse recent applications or zoom into specific sites. This makes the public consultation on forestry process more accessible for people tracking activity in their local area.
The Department also confirms that forestry licence decisions made since 13 September 2023 are available through the Forestry Licence Viewer, while older decisions remain accessible through the Register of Decisions. This digital approach supports transparency in line with broader expectations seen across public bodies such as the Revenue Commissioners, Health Service Executive (HSE), An Garda Síochána and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
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Appeals and Public Accountability
Anyone dissatisfied with a forestry-related licensing decision can appeal through the independent Forestry Appeals Committee. Appeals may relate to afforestation, felling, forest road works or aerial fertilisation. The committee operates separately from the Department, offering an independent review channel that strengthens accountability in the Irish planning and environmental system.
This matters because forestry policy touches multiple national interests, from biodiversity and carbon capture to farming livelihoods and regional development. As a result, the public consultation on forestry is not just for sector specialists; it is relevant to communities across Ireland.
Why This Consultation Matters for Ireland
The public consultation on forestry will help shape how Ireland grows, protects and regulates its forests for decades ahead. With forestry linked closely to Climate Action, Agriculture and sustainable land management, public submissions could influence everything from environmental safeguards to future planting policy. For anyone interested in Ireland’s green transition, this is a consultation worth watching closely.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
