Don't force government's 25-year tree-planting scheme on farmers, says union
Ambitious plans to boost the amount of forests and woods in Northern Ireland by more than one-third must not be forced on farmers, industry representatives have said.
On Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir launched a 25-year Tree Planting Action Plan that seeks to increase the province’s woodland cover from 8.6% to 12% by 2050.
If successful, it means the total amount of cover will increase by around 39% from its starting point. Since so much of Northern Ireland is agricultural land, however, Mr Muir says it’ll only work if farmers get on board.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has now emphasised that farmer choice must remain at the heart of the plan, wanting to make sure tree planting isn’t pushed on businesses that aren’t suitable for it.
And, officials maintain, farmers must not feel pressured into joining the scheme just because grant money is available for it.
“Tree planting won’t suit every farm, and it should never be presented as though it does,” said UFU president John McLenaghan, who revealed the union contributed to the design of the action plan by representing landowners and ensuring their voices were heard while it was being put together.
“Farmer choice has been our guiding principle, and it has shaped our involvement in this plan from day one,” he added.
“We’re not fixed on the 12% target at all. What matters to us is that farmers have the opportunity to engage in woodland if it makes sense for their own business, not because they’re being targeted and not because other payments are tied to it.
“At every stage of this process we have pushed for balanced messaging so that the information coming out of this plan gives farmers a true, fair and accurate picture of both the opportunities and the challenges, rather than a sales pitch.”
The UFU has pledged to remain in talks with the Department for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) as well as other bodies as the plan moves forward, and welcomes measures allowing farmers to easily access information on issues such application windows, available grants and tax implications connected to planting woodland.
Said Mr McLenaghan: “These are practical measures we pushed hard for during co-design.
“A one-stop-shop for information, clearer timelines and proper tax guidance will help farmers make an informed decision; that’s what this has to be about, an informed choice rather than a push towards a target.”
Launching the 25-year plan this week, Mr Muir said farmers would “play a key role” in the success of a plan that “comes at a critical juncture for nature and our climate”.
Stated the Daera minister: “By raising awareness and improving understanding, we can build confidence that farm woodlands are valued assets and a viable land use that can be integrated into Northern Ireland’s productive agricultural landscape, supporting economically sustainable farm enterprises.
“This plan is only the beginning. It is incumbent on us to keep working together to remove barriers and identify opportunities to ensure we plant trees in the right place. Together we can improve our environment for all of us and future generations to benefit from.”