The future of Irish forestry

Sir, – The future of Irish forestry debate is welcome (Letters, April 1st), especially so in the context of establishing priorities in the climate crisis.

The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is clearly the first priority, and in the area of land use we have a duty to address it.

It is recognised in most countries that an increase in productive forest area is a key mitigation mechanism so here it makes sense that afforestation comes first. Without a reduction in emissions, other land-use ambitions will, in a hostile climate, be pointless.

Unfortunately, this does not seem important to official Ireland where we separate out afforestation from sustainability and diversity when it clearly encompasses both. Every possible method of managing GHG emissions, ranging from wind, solar panels and digesters to rewetting and rewilding, along with replacing productive forests with native species, is proposed. Yet we ignore our soil resource with its capacity to maintain fast-growing, diverse, productive carbon storing forests.

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Despite grandiose plans, our afforestation has never been lower with farmer and investor confidence at rock bottom with minimal take-up of the, still convoluted, licensing system. It is also worth noting that the area, outside of agriculture, designated as not suitable for forestry, amounts to more than twice our total present forest estate. So there is adequate room left for those who enjoy the open space of these more impoverished ecological areas.

Meanwhile, opportunities and targets are missed while the temperature moves inexorably upward and mature forests are felled to be replaced with something possibly inferior. Perhaps a new administration, incorporating a wood and forestry board, will return to past achievements. – Yours, etc,

GERHARDT GALLAGHER,

Ranelagh,

Dublin 6.