08:56 am | 1 recommendation | Be the first to comment
IFA demands farm forestry strategy and support
11/09/2008
The Irish Farmers Association has demanded the Government commit to a structured farm forestry plan and provide extra resources where necessary.
IFA Farm Forestry Committee chairman Pat Hennessy made the calls after a meeting with Forestry Minister Tony Killeen.
According to Hennessy the strategic plan for the forestry sector is being ignored and the industry is operating without any boundaries: "The industry is in crisis, and without strong leadership the afforestation figures will continue to fall year on year and existing forestry will continue to be inadequately supported," he said.
Hennessy said farmers are committed to forestry, but are being held back by the Governmentm, in that farmers want to plant and produce quality timber but are prevented from doing so: "[Farmers] are being stopped by the Government. Instead of showing leadership they are impeding the development of the sector by imposing bans on huge areas of land suitable for forestry and providing inadequate support."
However, the Irish Government has insisted it is committed to the forestry sector and says Euros 125m is invested every year.
Mr Killeen has previously said that the Government is fully aware of the ongoing contribution, and the future potential, of forestry to the economy, the environment and society.
3
Recommend This If you liked this, let others know:
08:49 am | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
Irish Government urged to reform forestry laws
A commentator for the Irish Independent has published his view that Ireland's Government needs to do more for the forestry industry.
Joe Barry believes the recent financial cutbacks will have a negative impact on national planting figures. The Department of Agriculture has limited spending funds, and many farmers are reluctant to plant because of the current requirement to replant after final harvesting.
"We are all reluctant to deny our successors the option of returning the land to mainstream agriculture at some future date," says Barry, "so the removal of that requirement would greatly increase farmers' willingness to plant. Due to the long-term nature of forestry, many of us who plant trees will never see them ready for final harvest, and, naturally, we are very conscious of the need to ensure that we are passing on our land to the next generation in the best manner we can."
Barry argues that although producing timber for fuel and general use seems to be a sound investment at the moment, the replanting requirement makes farmers fear their descendants will be tied to a single system of agriculture after the final forestry crop is harvested.
There have been a number of cases where The Forest Service has granted permission to farmers to clear sections of planted land, in cases where the farmer wants to build a family house or other such requirements. Barry believes that stating such a policy publicly would allay many farmers' fears, and encourage more forestry planting.
Bill English
Greenwood Management
Recommend This If you liked this, let others know:
