Madam, – Time was, when it was possible for a squirrel to go from Cork to Derry without touching the ground. Such was the density of the ancient forests of Ireland.
Over the centuries, however, there was no policy of sustained forest yield. There was wholesale exploitation. The British industrial revolution and British navy were established on a base of hardwoods from Irish forests. Native chieftains cleared timber in front of them for firewood and grazing space.
The result of this plunder was that forests compromised only 2 per cent of the land of Ireland by the year 1900. Faced with this situation, reforestation was undertaken in 1904. A school of forestry was established at Avondale, Co Wicklow. Progress was slow throughout the 20th century – interrupted by the War of Independence, the Civil War, and the two world wars. Wages were low – 30 shillings per week from 1929 to 1939. It was this that gave rise to the saying “The Wicklow Mountains were planted by hungry men”.
In spite of difficulties over a century, Ireland has now 10 per cent of its land area under trees. In 2009 Irish sawmills produced 769,000m3 of sawn timber, and 80,000m3 of round stakes. Exports of sawn timber amounted to 564,000m3. Forest parks and pathways are a major part of our tourist industry.
The country is now in deep debt. There is talk of having a sale of our assets. Our forests have been mentioned. An unthinkable thought surely.
We hold this heritage of a renewable forest resource in trust for generations yet unborn. There can be no sell-out, no handing over of our woodlands to what Pearse referred to as “the ‘wise’ men in their counting houses”. – Yours, etc,