A senator has said that it is crucial to revise strategies to mitigate the potential impact of the bark beetle across the entire forestry value chain and estate.

Senator Victor Boyhan was addressing officials from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Marine (DAFM) at the Oireachtas Agricultural Committee.

Boyhan said: “We know that over 48% is sitka spruce and spruce of varying degrees in forestry. We have over-invested in and focused too much on one type of species.

We do not have diversity in species planting in forestry.

“However, we know there are challenges for the international markets.”

Investment

Senator Boyhan acknowledged the government’s commitment to its new €1.3 billion forestry programme, which includes enhanced grant aid and premium payments to encourage planting, to achieve an annual target 8,000ha.

The senator also highlighted silviculture, which practices promoting long rotation periods, high growing stocks, and low age and species diversity.

“We need to reconcile silviculture and forest protection and combine them in an integrated risk management strategy,” he said.

Senator Boyhan also called on the department to set out its interaction with emerging technological trends to assist with forestry risk such as the treat of the bark beetle.

He said: “Forest risk management must keep up with the ongoing digital transformation. Satellite and close-range remote sensing, artificial intelligence, horizon scanning tools, and other emerging technologies are essential for monitoring, risk assessment, spatial planning, and forecasting operational and planting growth and associated conditions.

During the same hearing, the senator also reiterated his call for the establishment of a National Forestry Authority.