Clare interest in forestry report

The final report and recommendations of the Forestry Policy Review Group, entitled, Forests, Products and People – Ireland’s forest policy – a renewed vision, was launched in Dublin this Wednesday by Minster of State, Tom Hayes.

This is of particular interest for  Clare, as there has been a big increase in forestry projects in the county in recent years. Talks, field trips and practical demonstrations are held on a regular basis by Teagasc, while farm organisations and other accredited groups are also heavily involved in promoting the business.

A Forest Policy Review Group was established by the (then) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in April 2010 to review State forestry policy to take account of its critical role in relation to climate change and its importance to construction, bio-energy, bio-diversity and its potential to deliver long-term employment in other downstream industries such as eco-tourism, furniture, crafts etc. The group, which comprised of a wide range of stakeholders, met on a number of occasions in the period 2010 to 2012, with the review process also consisting of an open call for submissions and workshops.

Minister of State Hayes acknowledged the contribution and input of the members and those who made submissions to the process.

He said, “The outcome of this review, in the form of this wide-ranging report and many recommendations, is a milestone in the development of the policy framework for the forest sector. As Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, I am pleased to launch this report as the forest sector makes a significant contribution at national level. I believe that the sector has enormous potential to further contribute to the economic, environmental and social development of the country into the future. I welcome the report as a means to assist in achieving this potential.”

Minister of State Hayes outlined some of the recommendations in the report, including those relating to expansion of the forest area, ensuring sustainable management of national forest resource, environmental considerations and cost effective mobilisation of the forest resource. He concluded by saying that

“The review is an important document that represents a consensus view among a wide range of forest sector stakeholders, and therefore merits very serious consideration. Already it has been considered in formulating our national forestry programme, and we are in the process of conducting further analysis of the recommendations.”