A GALWAY IFA forestry representative has called on the Government and Dept. of Agriculture to put in place special once-off measures to deal with the damaged caused to plantations by Storm Éowyn last month.

Pat Lyons from Woodford told the Farming Tribune that given the damage caused by the storm – with huge swathes of forests flattened – felling licences needed to be fast tracked as a matter of urgency.

He said that many farmers had small plantations – often on marginal lands – as a long-term investment forming part of a family pension plan.

“The danger is that now a lot of surplus timber will come on the market as a result of the storm damage which will in turn have a knock-down impact on prices.

“Given the amount of timber that will be coming on stream following Storm Éowyn, we are looking for a reduction in the commercial timber output for the next couple of years in order to give some stability to the market,” said Pat Lyons.

He said that normally with felling licences, an environmental report had first to be completed, but this should now be removed to allow farmers to get their felling licences as soon as possible.

“Another problem in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn was that a lot of trees were split which will consequently result in a loss of value, with some of that timber just having a firewood use.

Pictured: The sheer destructive power of Storm Éowyn, January 23/24, can be seen from the hundreds of flattened trees at this plantation in the Newbridge area of East Galway. PICTURE COURTESY OF IRISH TIMES