This study is based on single visits to a number of private afforestation sites selected at random for counties Laois, Clare and Tipperary. The sample sites were selected from those applications which were referred by the Forest Service to An Taisce for comment in 2002. The sites selected were all 10 ha or larger. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of private afforestation projects on local heritage.

In general, the Forest Service biodiversity guidelines were complied in respect of open space and habitat retention. Most sites visited appeared to have habitats which were not particularly special in conservation terms. In these cases, the habitats retained were hedgerows and small patches of scrub. A minority of the sample sites had conservation interest, and included patches of wet grassland and areas of open moorland and unenclosed, unimproved grassland. One site, within an NHA, was not planted, and another undesignated site of potential conservation interest remained unplanted.

The incremental effects of contiguous private plantations on the landscape are serious. There is no overall forestry planning: each plantation is treated as a single unit with no relationship to other, existing plantations.

Many of the sites visited were located within areas already quite heavily forested. There appears to be a trend towards planting on the foothills of hill areas, on marginal, enclosed farmland but also on unenclosed land. In a few cases, better farmland has been afforested.

The presentation of information in applications forms is poor. Maps are sometimes almost indecipherable, and it is very difficult to locate some sites on the ground, based on the information as presented. Sometimes, Areas for Biodiversity Enhancement are not marked on maps, making it difficult to evaluate compliance. In many case, the silvicultural and environmental sections of the application forms referred to An Taisce were missing. Even so, most of these sites had been planted.

The emphasis on non-native conifers - Sitka spruce in particular - continues. There appears to be little change in terms of species content and layout of plantations since private afforestation 'took off' in the late 1980s. Broadleaves are still planted in amenity fringes. Even on sites where broadleaves appear to be growing well in hedgerows and other areas, there is still a strong emphasis on Sitka spruce.

The biodiversity guidelines address the need to retain habitats within a plantation, but they do not address the issue of whether to plant an entire habitat, unless it is a designated conservation site.