# Forestry

This year

2023

Forestry owner wins €1.4m tax battle with Revenue over €10m land sales

The Tax Appeals Commissioner for the case found that Revenue’s valuations carried ‘little persuasive value’ when making her finding.

44.4k

Aug 11th 2023, 10:09 PM

# failure to communicate

'Unacceptable' commitment by public bodies when faced with environmental information requests

The Commissioner for Environmental Information has reversed a ‘staggering’ number of environmental information decisions by public bodies.

10.1k

May 24th 2023, 12:10 AM

# forestry strategy

Coillte forestry deal 'not government's preferred option', admits agriculture minister

The deal has come in for strong criticism from politicians, forestry groups and farmers bodies.

13.9k

Jan 26th 2023, 9:37 AM

# Wood for the trees

Explainer: Why is a deal between Coillte and a British firm so controversial?

Here’s a breakdown explaining the deal, why it’s controversial, and what happens next.

11.8k

Jan 24th 2023, 4:36 PM

# Forestry

New €1.3 billion forestry strategy labelled a 'scandal' by Irish Wildlife Trust

The proposal will see Coillte partner with Gresham House to bankroll new forests.

57.4k

Updated

Jan 14th 2023, 4:26 PM

Last year

2022

# Afforestation

New scheme will allow landowners to plant one hectare of trees without forestry licence

The new scheme is set to be launched before the end of the year.

30.6k

Aug 31st 2022, 5:03 PM

Voices

Pippa Hackett: We need to move fast to improve our forestry cover in Ireland

The Minister of State for Agriculture says Ireland is falling in its targets on forestry but the government plans to accelerate progress this year.

20.4k

Jan 4th 2022, 7:00 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

Special branch: Over 75 cases of alleged illegal tree felling investigated last year

A report by

Niall Sargent

In several cases, trees were cut down in protected nature areas or on land previously sold to private individuals by Coillte.

Several large-scale cases still open, including the felling of 30 hectares of forest, writes Niall Sargent of Noteworthy

Removal of trees to make way for agricultural expansion is a common issue across many cases

In several instances, trees were cut down in protected nature areas or on land previously sold to private individuals by Coillte

33.4k

Jan 2nd 2022, 12:05 AM

All time

# Endangered Species

Rare hen harrier numbers plummet as plan to protect species pushed back

Only 18 pairs of the rare raptor species reared chicks this year in areas designated to protect it – the most unproductive year on record.

25.8k

Dec 26th 2021, 8:30 AM

# Spruced Up

State warned by EU official in 2017 over eco-credentials of forestry licensing process

Records released to Noteworthy show that the State was warned it is not doing enough to ensure environmental risks from forestry “are a thing of the past”.

18.9k

Apr 11th 2021, 8:30 AM

# Info hub

Open Access: A citizen’s guide to uncovering housing and local information

Our community-driven platform Noteworthy helps you find out if you are in an area prone to floods, landslides, high radon and more.

7.7k

Dec 30th 2020, 11:30 AM

# timber trouble

Forestry backlog continues as licences overturned due to biodiversity concerns

Noteworthy analysis reveals serious concerns remain over environmental assessments undertaken by the State prior to granting plantation forestry licences.

19.3k

Dec 30th 2020, 7:00 AM

# Spruced Up

'David vs Goliath': why individuals are challenging Ireland's forestry licences

We look at thousands of forestry applications and appeal decisions to reveal deep problems in the quality of environmental assessments.

64.3k

Oct 26th 2020, 7:30 AM

# Spruced Up

Ireland's tree-planting policies are bad news for biodiversity

Analysis reveals licences for conifer plantations still being granted on biodiversity-rich areas and precious peat soils.

70.9k

Oct 25th 2020, 12:05 AM

Voices

Column: Ireland's forestry industry has hit a blockade - here's a way we can get through it

Ireland needs a new model for forestry that does not damage nature, writes Minister of State for Agriculture Pippa Hackett.

23.9k

Sep 22nd 2020, 7:00 AM

# coillte

Nine forests in Dublin mountains to be upgraded for recreational use

The forests have been managed by Coillte primarily for commercial purposes to date

32.1k

May 25th 2020, 3:01 PM

# Fraud

Two men jailed for inducing dozens to invest in €5.5 million forestry scam

Garret Hevey (43) and David Peile (42) were involved in Arden Forestry Management (Arden FM).

18.2k

Jul 30th 2019, 8:27 AM

# Forest Industries Ireland

Irish forestry industry to double output by 2035, new association predicts

Forest Industries Ireland has 22 member companies from across the island of Ireland

9.7k

Jan 9th 2019, 3:30 PM

# Data Breach

Data of hundreds of farmers paid for taking part in government scheme leaked

It comes the same day as the Department announces the approval of a similar scheme for the forestry sector.

22.3k

Sep 27th 2018, 11:55 AM

Voices

Floundering forests: The challenges facing the Irish forestry industry

It will take 100 years to achieve the government’s target of 18% forestry cover, writes Dermot McNally.

29.5k

May 8th 2018, 7:00 AM

# Health and Safety

Farmers account for most work-related deaths in Ireland

Half of the fatalities last year involved self-employed people.

8.7k

Aug 16th 2017, 8:19 AM

# damage

Gorse fire which was visible across Dublin put under control last night

Dublin Fire Brigade received over 20 calls reporting the incident.

14.6k

May 18th 2017, 10:47 AM

# bad investment

Two men arrested over €5 million land and forestry fraud

Gardaí said a significant amount of money held in Irish banks has been frozen.

23.5k

Feb 7th 2017, 7:33 AM

# Bank Branch

Europe is lending Ireland €90 million to grow thousands of trees

Under the investment, more than 35,000 hectares will be replanted.

16.5k

Feb 4th 2017, 7:25 AM

# dangerous times

It looks like North Korea has executed another senior member of government

Vice-premier Choe Yong-gon has been executed by firing squad according to reports.

18.3k

Aug 12th 2015, 3:17 PM

# EU summit

Ireland (and our cows) seem happy with a new agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions

EU leaders have agreed to cut emissions by 40 per cent on 1990 levels at a summit in Brussels overnight.

30.6k

Oct 24th 2014, 11:05 AM

# Grows on Trees

Former Coillte boss got €88,000 for three months' work last year

David Gunning received a total package of €195,000 for 2013 when all payments are taken into account.

10.3k

Jun 26th 2014, 4:35 PM

# Oireachtas agenda

Health cuts, the banking inquiry, 'sludge'... and everything else happening in Leinster House today

What’s going on in Leinster House? Well, you asked…

3.0k

Jan 28th 2014, 9:00 AM

# Forestry

Forestry Inventory finds 10.5% of Ireland’s total land area is forest

There has been an increase in the private forestry estate of 4 per cent in the last six years.

10.4k

Dec 18th 2013, 7:30 AM

# Merger

IMPACT warns Bord na Mona merger would give Coillte a 'weak voice'

The agency is set to merge with Bord na Mona instead of its harvesting rights being sold off.

5.7k

Nov 19th 2013, 12:40 PM

# sustainbility

Recession pushes Laois communities into action on sustainability

The Leaf project has been working for the last three years to get communities in the county working together on all aspects of sustainable development.

7.4k

Aug 11th 2013, 7:45 AM

Voices

Column: Upcoming EU timber regulations are two steps behind environmental reality

The chopping, fudging and importing of illegally harvested timber is likely to continue; and a holistic solution to sustainable forestry management is still a long way off, writes Dermot McNally.

Mar 1st 2013, 7:00 PM