Sir, – Would it not be better for the principal of St Damian’s NS to encourage balanced, informed debate rather than consigning his copies of Sitka Spruce: The Amazing Timber Tree to the recycling bin? (Letters, April 25th). Ireland has no native spruce trees, so we need to plant non-native species such as Sitka spruce if we are to grow our own building timber for (low-carbon) construction.
There is certainly a discussion to be had about the extent to which our forests should be dominated by one tree, but that debate is ongoing and species other than Sitka, primarily native broadleaves, now comprise the greater part of new planting.
Our national forest strategy is predicated on the principle of “the right tree in the right place for the right reason”. What’s wrong with that? – Yours, etc,
CORMAC O’CARROLL,
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Salzburg,
Austria.
