Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
FOREST SERVICE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Forest Service, an Agency of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has provided opinions on the following projects in respect of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (as amended).
An opinion under the Regulations is formed taking account of the selection criteria specified in the legislation. An opinion may be ‘relevant’ if it is considered that a project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment or ‘not relevant’ if a project is considered unlikely to have a significant effect on the environment. Each project is required to comply with the UK Forestry Standard, which describes the governments’ approach to sustainable forestry.
| Reference | ERA21/22-06 |
| Project Type | Afforestation |
| Location | Knockbracken, Belfast |
| Grid Reference | J 35505 67275 |
| Area | 0.42 hectares |
| Project Description | Planting of native woodland on grassland |
| Opinion | Not relevant |
| Priority habitats will not be affected by this proposal. Only native tree species will be planted and the creation of this woodland will extend the area of recently planted native woodland at this location. |
| Reference | ERA21/22-07 |
| Project Type | Deforestation |
| Location | Dunhugh Golf Course, Prehen |
| Grid Reference | C 41810 13443 |
| Area | 1.24ha |
| Project Description | Removal of conifers |
| Opinion | Not relevant |
| Priority habitats will not be affected by this small scale project. Woodland removal is restricted to three conifer blocks consisting of un-thinned Norway Spruce. |
| Reference | FL2021/22-31 |
| Project Type | Deforestation |
| Location | Ranaghan, Maghera |
| Grid Reference | C 80678 02507 |
| Area | 0.53ha |
| Project Description | Removal of conifers |
| Opinion | Not relevant |
| No priority habitats or features of cultural interest will be affected by this project. The three geometrically shaped conifer blocks were of low landscape value. |
Departmental project
| Reference | ERA2021/22-10 |
| Project Type | Deforestation |
| Location | Braetown, Glenwherry |
| Grid Reference | D 28369 01690 |
| Area | 2.14ha |
| Project Description | Removal of planted conifers and to restore this area to blanket bog habitat |
The Department does not intend to prepare an environmental statement.
Maps and information relating to these projects have been placed on www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/forestry. Further information may be obtained by contacting Policy and Regulation Branch at 028 6634 3034 or by emailing forest.regulation@daera-ni.gov.uk. Any person wishing to comment on the likely environmental effects of the above projects may do so in writing by 6/12/21 to Forest Service, Policy and Regulation Branch, Inishkeen House, Killyhevlin, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT74 4EJ or by emailing forest.regulation@daera-ni.gov.uk.