The extent of the damage to family-owned forestry following Storms Darragh and Éowyn is still being assessed, although initial reports are of unprecedented windblow across the north midlands and western counties.
Farmers and private forest owners are now facing the monumental task of salvaging as much value from their flatten crop. Irish Forest Owners is working with all key stakeholders, include the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to ensure that forest owners are fully supported.
We will update this page regularly to keep forest owners informed.
Forest owners whose properties have been affected by the recent Storm Éowyn are invited to attend a crucial public meeting aimed at addressing the challenges presented by storm-damaged forests.
The meeting provided a platform for forest owners with storm damage to come together, share experiences and explore strategies for recovering and restoring storm-damaged forests. This collaborative effort aimed to support forest owners in navigating the aftermath of the most severe weather event in recent times and ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of their forests.
Key Topics Discussed at the Public meeting:
The meeting will include discussions on the scale of damage across the country and the needs of forest owners. There will also be networking opportunities to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants.
“Our forests are vital to our environment and economy, and it is crucial that we come together to support those affected by recent storms,” said Derek McCabe, Chair of Irish Forest Owners.
“This meeting is an opportunity for forest owners to gain valuable insights and resources to help them mitigate their losses, and to build resilience for the future.”
Irish Forest Owners are representing forest owners on the National Windblow Taskforce. The first meeting of the taskforce was held on Tuesday 4th February, with a second meeting on Tuesday 11th February.
The taskforce is composed of forestry stakeholders representing both public and privately owned forestry, forestry companies, the sawmilling industry and Teagasc.
Topics under discussion include:
Below are links to important circulars issued by the Department of Agriculture regarding licences for storm-damaged forests
Sentinel-2 satellite imagery is available to facilitate mapping and damage assessments of forests. These satellite images are provided FREE of charge and are openly accessible to everyone from the European Commission’s Copernicus Browser. The Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem Browser or Copernicus Browser serves as a central hub for accessing, exploring and utilising the wealth of Earth observation and environmental data provided by the Copernicus Sentinel constellations, contributing missions, Auxiliary engineering data, on-demand data and more.
Below is a short guidance video on the use of the Copernicus Browser to view Sentinel-2 satellite imagery.
To access the full suite of tools available from Copernicus Browser it is recommended that you register for an account (rather than accessing anonymously). The Copernicus Browser and registration for a Copernicus Browser (Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem) account can be accessed be entering ‘copernicus browser’ into Google.
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