Sir, - In a letter published in The Irish Times on September 21st, 38 German environmentalists on holiday in Connemara expressed dismay at the fact that Ireland was pursuing a forestry policy entailing gigantic plantations of non native trees, mainly conifers. They stated that this policy, which was tried in Germany and proved an environmental disaster, had now been abandoned by German State forestry.
What truly shocked these visitors - and "shocked" is the word they used - is that Ireland is now repeating the same mistakes. They went on to call for the new forests to be made up of native trees.
In the light of this factual and persuasive letter, written by fellow Europeans and fellow environmentalists, is it not time that An Taisce reconsider its forestry policy as expressed in its document, Ireland's Forested Future, and insist that 51 per cent - not 20 per cent as is the case now - of all new forestry plantings be composed of native trees? - Yours, etc,
Castlegregory,
Co. Kerry.