Forest Industries Ireland (FII) said it has been engaging with ESB Networks to discuss the implications for forestry from the ESB Winter Grid Resilience Plan.

The plan aims to enhance grid resilience in the context of winter storms which can disrupt electricity supply, such as what happened with Storm Éowyn in January 2025.

FII said the plan has "significant implications for the national forest estate and individual forest owners, particularly the widening of corridors for ESB medium voltage lines through forests".

"It is important that the correct solution to protecting the grid is achieved, one that both protects the grid and the forest estate," FII said.

Mark McAuley, director of FII, said: "The forest sector has important economic, social and environmental benefits for the country and the full value of Ireland’s forests and the sector should be taken into account whilst at the same time protecting the national electricity grid.

“It is essential that forest owners be supported and deforestation is minimised.

"Negative impacts on confidence in forestry must be avoided."

Forest corridors

FII has outlined a number of its specific positions in relation to the current roll-out of the ESB Grid Resilience Plan and the development of associated enabling legislation by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

FII said a full analysis of the necessary width of corridors must be completed, and their width and design should be agreed in consultation with the forest sector.

"All options should be explored in each case to see if alternatives to widening corridors exist, for example by diverting existing power lines or moving them underground," FII said.

"Other ‘network hardening’ solutions such as increasing the height or changing the design of poles should be fully explored and implemented where appropriate.

"Where corridors must exist or be extended, maintenance and vegetation management cannot be made the responsibility of the forest owner.

"Where corridors must exist or be extended, compensation payments to forest owners must be sufficient, take into account long-term value and risks, and include an annualised component."

FII has urged that all legislation and implementing actions must be developed in full consultation with the forestry sector.

"Due weight must be given to the value of forests and the forest sector - economic, social and environmental - in developing the plan," it said.

"Forest cover in Ireland is already very low when compared to the European average, with new planting (afforestation) levels remaining at stubbornly low levels, so it is essential that Ireland protects what forestry it does have.  

"Owners must be supported in the short-term while protecting the long-term commercial value of forests, in particular following the financial damage suffered from Storm Éowyn in January 2025."