A Chara, - On my daily trek to Wicklow I travel through the Glen of the Downs. The tree protesters are very evident there not becauseof their "utter mess" as referred to by Emmet Stokes (April 13th) but because most passers-by slow down, intrigued to see how these people live. Many blow their car horns, presumably in support. But in support of what?Wicklow may indeed need an improved road system but I can't agree that the issue is a simple one. Although the State has, through Coillte and grant availability, increased substantially forest cover in Ireland the vast majority of these have been rotating conifer plantations. Little if any consideration has been given to broadleaf trees as they don't offer a short-to-medium return on investment. Herein lies the crux of the issue.A mature, self-propagating broadleaf wood like that in the Glen of the Downs, once felled, cannot simply be replaced elsewhere in the country. Once planted, it will take generations to mature. My children's children could never reap its rewards. The protesters appreciate this and attach a value to the woods that most of us choose not to understand in our pursuit of convenience. - Is mise,Colm C. Nolan,The Clover,Ballinascorney,Dublin 24.