The Perceptions Of Farmers To Afforestation In Ireland Tom Kent 1 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Perceptions Of Farmers To Afforestation In Ireland Tom Kent 1 & Ian Short 2 1 Waterford Institute of Technology 2 Teagasc, Johnstown Castle Research Centre

Background PAMUCEAF - Poplar - a multiple use crop for European arable farmers EU FAIR-funded project 1999 - 2002 Project Objectives:  to determine potential for poplar on surplus agricultural land  to assess attitudes of farmers and public to this  to examine demand level & markets for poplar

Forestry in Ireland  Forest Area in Ireland is 9% of total land area  c. 95% plantation, 5% natural / semi-natural  84% conifer, 16% broadleaf  National Forest Policy is to increase area to 17%  Land base for further afforestation is private  Primarily farmers diversifying from agriculture  Supported by subsidies on establishment and income substitution

Annual Afforestation in Ireland (1932 - 1998) 20,000 18,000 Public Private 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 2 6 0 4 8 2 6 0 4 8 2 6 0 4 8 2 6 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Source: Redrawn from Bulfin, 1999.

Private afforestation in Ireland, 1990 - 1998. 20,000 18,000 Total private afforestation 16,000 14,000 Afforestation by full time 12,000 Area (ha) farmers 10,000 Afforestation by part-time 8,000 farmers 6,000 Afforestation by non- 4,000 farmers 2,000 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Year Source: Coggins 1999.

Objectives of Study  Characterise the respondent & the farm type  Determine current land uses including forestry  Analyse farmers' perceptions of farm forestry  Assess farmers' willingness to further afforest 480 questionnaires posted to IFA arable farmers 44 responses collated and analysed This was an 8.8% response rate

Age distribution of respondents How old a re you? Under 30 30-45 46-60 Ov er 60

Distribution of farm size Farm s ize 30 Re sponse rate (%) 25 20 15 10 5 0 < 25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 > 200 Area(H a.)

On-farm land-use Frequency 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Spring-sown cereals Permanent grass/long leys Winter-sown cereals Sugar beet Woodland/farm forestry Short-term grass leys Potatoes Legumes (e.g. peas, beans) Beet Field vegetables Average area Leased out Frequency Fodder maize Unspecified Maize/sweet corn Winter-sown oilseed rape Flower bulbs Waste (hedges etc) Set-aside Fruit crops Spring-sown oilseed rape 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Average area (ha)

Presence of woodland/forestry on the farm Woodland or forestry present on the farm. 37% Yes No 63%

Composition of afforestation Sitka Ash Norway spruce Larch Poplar Average area (Ha) Frequency Sycamore Beech Douglas fir Oak Noble fir 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Land-use prior to afforestation 50 45 40 Re 35 sp on 30 Arable crop production se 25 Grassland rat e Woodland/forestry 20 (% ) 15 10 5 0 All Most Some

Non timber production uses of woodland Wildlife conservation Shooting or hunting Shelter Public access for recreation or sport Protection of water-course or drinking water supply Livestock grazing Other 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Proportion of responses (%)

Perceived landscape value of land-uses 60 50 Pro Very low 40 por Low tio n Medium 30 (%) High Very high 20 Don't know 10 0 Arable crops Lowland Conifers Poplars Mixed Short rotation grassland broadleaves coppice

Perceived wildlife value of land-uses 60 50 Pro Very low 40 por Low tio n Medium 30 (%) High Very high 20 Don't know 10 0 Arable crops Lowland Conifers Poplars Mixed Short rotation grassland broadleaves coppice

Perceived economic value of land-uses 60 50 Very low 40 Pr Low op ort Medium 30 ion High (% ) Very high 20 Don't know 10 0 Arable crops Lowland Conifers Poplars Mixed Short rotation grassland broadleaves coppice

Perceptions on land-uses - summary Land-use Modal response Landscape Wildlife Economics Arable crops Medium Low Medium Lowland grassland High Medium Medium Conifers High High Medium Mixed broadleaves Very high Very high Low Poplars High High Don’t know Short rotation coppice Don’t know Don’t know Don’t know

Attitudes towards farm forestry I have no interest in farm forestry I have actively considered farm forestry, but it was not for me I might like to grow trees, but need more information I would like to grow trees as an alternative farm crop 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Proportion of responses (%)

Conclusions  Many arable farmers already engaged in farm forestry  Variety of tree species grown conifer & broadleaf  Most farmers had multiple objectives for their farm forests  Perception is farm forestry will increase in future  Main reason is due to uncertainties in farming.  Majority willing to consider forestry as an enterprise  Perception that afforestation reduces value of land