The Department of Agriculture has already spent over €1.6 million this year on external ecological consultancy fees to make up for a shortfall in internal expertise to carry out environmental assessments for a growing backlog of forestry licence applications. Anyone who wishes to plant or fell trees on a large scale must apply for a licence from the department, whether it be for a commercial conifer plantation or a broadleaf woodland.  As part of this process, a thorough ecological assessment must be carried out to comply with stringent EU environmental law.  Historically, the department’s forestry team has lacked environmental experts…

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