The Forestry and Timber Association (FTA) is pressing for an increase in tree planting in Northern Ireland.
In 1970 a ‘forest cover’ target of 150,000 ha was set to be achieved by the year 2000 – equating to 9.6% of the available land area in the province.
However, to date there are only 83,000 ha of afforested land in Northern Ireland – around 6.2% of the available land area.
FTA UK chairman Robert Scott said: “We are recommending to the agriculture minister Brid Rogers that an annual planting target of 700 ha be set for spruce plus and additional 800 ha of broadleaves.
“This would incease forest cover by 0.1% per annum which, over the next 30 years, would bring forest cover in Northern Ireland up to the target set back in 1970.”
