OCE-132562-W9P1C6

Construction by Coillte of an extension to an existing road at a site of forestry harvesting operations in County Leitrim, Coillte reference BAU3, LM03-Kiltyclogher

Coillte failed to seek development consent for or carry out an AA Screening for a new section of forest road

AIE 24 057

Note – The De Min area refers to the area paid under the Interim Afforestation Scheme (Via General De Minimis)

AIE 23/600 Internal Review

CN89940

AIE Request – All information on Red and Amber Infringements of Felling Licences under the Forest
Services Escalation Framework during November’23 consistent with the DAFM document Harvesting Inspections of Felling Licences (Nov ’22). To clarify, where there are infringements, I am looking for the records related to the identification and addressing of the infringement.

AIE Request 20230240

Text reads

As discussed please see pictures attached and screen shot beneath. As you will see from the attached photos there is quite a large amount of regeneration in the adjoining Yellow River buffer zone. This regen ranges in height from 2 meters to 14 metres approx. ,some or indeed a lot of the ground either side of this river is very steep and has very rough underfoot conditions. Our intention would be, on a fazed basis to remove these conifers where it is safe and practical to do so . We do not wish to embark on this exercise until we are clear if an operation such as this i.e. “The removal of Conifer Regeneration from an Aquatic buffer zone”. requires a felling licence or is it exempt due to its environmental and water quality benefits . We would like to start this work as soon as possible .Thanks. Regards, Gerry Mc Tiernan B3 Estates 0866040042

Notes: potentially a very significant issue for Coillte. In order to comply with certification standards they are having to remove natural regen of conifers from the setback of the Yellow River in Leitrim. This is such a task that they have been given until 2029 to accomplish it (and they will struggle to meet that given the scale of what needs to be done and the sensitivity with which it needs to be done). This is a cost with no commercial return.

Which other river corridors have the same problem? eg Blue Dot catchments ? catchments where the EPA has identified Forestry as a significant pressure on water quality?

As per email above, does “The removal of Conifer Regeneration from an Aquatic buffer zone” require a felling licence or is it exempt due to its environmental and water quality benefits ?