Sir, – I refer to Eoghan Daltun’s article “Ireland needs wild forests, not lifeless Sitka plantations” (Opinion & Analysis, September 7th) in which he criticises the recently launched Forestry Programme (2023-2027) because “there will be no meaningful change in direction”.
In the article he uses the term “monoculture” to describe Irish farmland and forestry. His comments on forestry, as currently practised in Ireland, fail to acknowledge the significant changes in forest development over the past two decades.
Ireland’s existing forest estate – public and private – carries a mix of 61 per cent conifers and 39 per cent broadleaves and biodiverse open spaces, while future forest policy aims to achieve 50 per cent broadleaves at a national level.
Individual new forests – which average 7 hectares in area, can carry only 4.5 hectares of commercial species with the remaining 35 per cent devoted to broadleaves and open biodiverse areas.
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This is hardly a monoculture by any definition of the word. Not only is our current forest estate far more diverse than he claims but it is also an attractive haven of recreation for Irish people and tourists who make 29 million visits to our forests annually.
The Society of Irish Foresters argues for a geographically balanced forestry programme whereby formerly large afforestation counties such as Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Limerick would share the afforestation programme.
This would allow forests – native, naturalised and non-native – to grow organically and dispense with any scaremongering about 50 per cent forest cover in Co Leitrim.
I agree with him that “we need more trees, lots more of them”. We need more trees not only to “to help maintain a functional biosphere” but also to provide a renewable supply of timber for sustainable construction, energy, print and other products.
There is room for natural forest ecosystems, be they native or naturalised.
What we need is a balanced forestry programme to supply sustainable wood and non-wood goods and services.
We should support and nurture our forests for their diversity and the vital role they play in the nation’s well-being and in climate change mitigation. – Yours, etc,
PAT O’SULLIVAN,
Technical Director,
The Society
of Irish Foresters,
Glenealy,
Co Wicklow.