Guidance to Windblow

Guidance for Forest Owners with Windblow

This guidance was initially drafted in response to 'Storm Darwin', but continues to be good guidance for forest owners in dealing with windblow in the aftermath of a storm or extreme weather event.

'Storm Darwin', 12th February 2014 caused damage in many Irish forests particularly in the south of the country. Some 8,000 hectares overall were affected. While initial estimates put the area damaged at less than 1% of the total forest area, locally the damage has been severe, with significant volumes of roundwood impacted.

To deal with windblown timber it is important that timber growers are aware of the various steps to take in assessing and planning the harvest of this timber.

Stakeholders in the forestry sector came together under the chairmanship of the Minister of State for Forestry, Tom Hayes TD, to co-ordinate a response to the storm damage. This Windblow Taskforce endeavoured to:

Estimate the area, volume and extent of the damage nationally,
Make recommendations to address the many issues that will arise in relation to the windblow event,
Make recommendations for the orderly removal of windblown timber from damaged forests.

For forest owners who have experienced windblow the most important advice is not to rush into decisions but to make a step-by-step plan to minimise risk and maximise the salvage value of your plantation. Most forests, despite being blown, can have considerable timber value. The following steps will assist forest owners in planning and harvesting:

Think Safety first, a windblown forest is a dangerous place. Only qualified and insured people should be permitted access. All parties have legal obligations when carrying out forestry operations under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1989: Code of Practice for Managing Safety and Health in Forestry Operations
If your plantation is insured for windblow, contact your insurance company immediately. Inform them that your plantation is damaged. The insurance company will assign an assessor to assess the damage.
Get independent advice from a Teagasc Forestry Adviser (For a one-to-one free advisory session in a Teagasc office, find the local adviser in your County at https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/ ) or from a qualified forestry professional who will meet you on-the-ground, and also other qualified professionals such as insurance advisors, taxation experts, etc. A qualified forester can assist you in the various steps outlined below. See the Forest Service (DAFM) website for a list of Registered Foresters: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/#register-of-foresters-and-forestry-companies
Assess the area, timber volume and likely value of the windblow in your forest. In addition assess the adjacent area that has not blown. Taking account of factors such as age, area and risk of windblow, a decision will need to be made whether or not it is best to retain the adjoining area and to allow it to grow on to normal clearfell age, or to harvest this area together with the area that has suffered windblow. Most plantations are unlikely to be entirely blown. Where a forest is partially windblown, it is important that a forestry professional assesses the remaining standing trees for stability. Where the forester deems that such trees are unstable, these should be included in the felling licence application.
Apply for a Felling Licence from Forest Service to fell/harvest the windblown timber and potentially any adjacent trees that may be at risk of windblow after the felling/removal of the windblown trees. Mark your application 'Storm Damage' to allow it to be prioritised by the Forest Service. If there is an existing licence for the land, please specify the licence number in your new felling licence application. The existing licence has to be cancelled before a new licence can issue as the same land cannot have two licences. Please ensure that the felling licence is signed by the land owner and where clearfelling is proposed, that details of the species being replanted are provided. See the Forest Service website for further information: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/
Consider access to the forest and specifically the windblown area and if necessary apply for a roading grant from the Forest Service, DAFM. Applications should be submitted before the end of March 2014 and can be made through a forester on the approved list.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 there is an obligation on landowners to gather information about site hazards and to produce a site risk assessment together with a site hazards map.
Market the windblown timber and get professional advice on current prices. Joining with a group of forest owners to sell timber will provide you with scale and efficiency. It may also reduce costs thereby maximising salvage value. Larger timber lots are more attractive to buyers.
Have a strong Timber Sales Contract in place to protect the interests of all parties and to ensure compliance with environmental requirements, Felling Licence, Health and Safety, indemnity, insurance, agreed harvesting procedures, timber prices, duration of contract, arbitration provisions, relevant maps and schedules and other requirements. A forestry professional should be able to provide you with such a contract or the Template Master Tree Sales Agreement produced by the Irish Timber Growers Association should be consulted.
Control the movement of timber from your site using a strong Timber Sales Dispatch System for security and accountability in timber sales. Again a forestry professional will provide this or see the ITGA Model Timber Sales Dispatch System: https://itga.ie/
Supervision and monitoring of the sale and harvesting operations will ensure you are complying with best practice and the provisions of the Felling Licence.
Close off the sale and record keeping - This is important for accounting and tax, Health and Safety, various environmental and other obligations. Make sure all timber is accounted for, paid for and that proper records are maintained.
Replanting plan - Plan your harvest in conjunction with subsequent replanting, which is a legal obligation after felling. A badly planned and implemented harvesting operation will potentially increase the replanting cost, ground damage and the ability of your forest to recover quickly.

The Windblow Taskforce was chaired by Minister Tom Hayes and was made up of the following:
Irish Forest and Forest Products Association (IFFPA)
Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA)
Coillte
Irish Farmers Association (IFA)
Forest Service, DAFM

Reconstitution Scheme (Windblow) announced: Closing date for applications is 24th February 2017