Sir, – In the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, farming was one of the immediate targets, with varying statistics on methane emissions and the need to reduce nitrogen-fertilised grass. In response, the IFA vice-chair made an impassioned plea for State support to effect a change in farming practice. This included the case for more support for forestry, and he commented on Government inaction, including the licensing debacle.
There also needs to be strong representation, yet again, to point out official confusion and misdirection with regard to ecology regulations. At the moment these inhibit a carbon storing policy.
Converting nitrogenous grassland to tree-growing reduces emissions, but also adds carbon storage into the system. The more land planted, the more carbon will be stored. Carbon sequestration and biodiversity are complementary, not in opposition. Forestry offers both, compared with the reduced effectiveness of hanging on to impoverished habitats, rewilding or bog-wetting.
The entire forestry programme has come to a virtual standstill. Quite apart from this threatening a valuable way of honouring our climate change commitments, we are importing timber, putting the price of timber products up by a reported 75 per cent, while our own timber lies untouched, and 12,000 rural sustainable jobs are under threat. Already many companies are letting workers go and facing closure.
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One thing that should be done immediately is to get rid of the current bureaucratic licensing system, resulting in up to a three-year wait for licences which have to be obtained throughout the forestry cycle, and replace it with one clear, achievable regulation. After all, a farmer does not need a licence to change from beef to barley. – Yours, etc,
GILL McCARTHY,
Shillelagh,
Co Wicklow.