What Longford forestry landowners should know since ESB Networks meeting

Following a recent meeting with ESB Networks on forestry issues, IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton said there is a lot of concern among farm foresters around proposed new legislation in respect of forestry corridors for ESB overhead lines.

Minister Darragh O’Brien brought the Heads of a Bill to Cabinet in August which would provide ESB Networks with additional vegetation management powers; enable the Minister to make regulations on the dimensions and conditions of corridors; and attach responsibilities to landowners for corridor maintenance.

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In addition, it is proposed to establish principles for compensation for landowners.

Padraig Stapleton said it is clear ESB Networks is a major driving force behind this new proposed legislation to enhance the resilience of the electricity grid against storm damage such as that which occurred during storm Ėowyn.

“There is an onus on ESB to consult with forestry landowners as key stakeholders. The absence of any discussion with the IFA Farm Forestry Committee has been disappointing,” he said.

“Farmers with established forests are extremely concerned about some of the proposals which include removing the Forestry Green Edge to widen forestry corridors. This will leave plantations vulnerable to further windblow or disease outbreaks. There is also concern around the proposals seeking to impose maintenance responsibilities on landowners. IFA will be insisting that the interests of forestry landowners are properly protected in any new legislation.”

On a separate item, Padraig Stepleton said ESB Networks has confirmed that there is currently no mandatory obligation on any forestry landowner to sign an easement with ESB Networks on forestry corridors.

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He said it is important for forestry landowners to know that any proposal from ESB Networks around forestry corridor easement is completely voluntary and also subject to agreed compensation with the landowner.

“Forestry landowners will encounter significant losses associated with the imposition of a forestry corridor and legal easement on their property, and are entitled to full compensation.”

“An IFA agreement with the ESB on forestry corridors and the loss of tree planting rights, negotiated back in 1992, also needs to be updated,” he concluded.