Tipperary and Limerick forest owners call for action to save our forests
Anger was expressed with the way forestry has been brought to the brink of collapse at the group's AGM held in Tipperary on November 16
At the AGM of Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners on Saturday there was an impassioned call by members to all political representatives to prioritise the need to save Ireland’s forestry industry.
"Action is needed now if Ireland is serious in its intention to reach our climate change mitigation commitments, as otherwise tax-payers faces €6 billion in likely fines." said the group.
Chairman Simon White said that “The annual planting targets will continue to be missed because of the short-sighted approach of the department of Agriculture in penalizing forest owners who have done nothing wrong. The Department cannot stand by and watch woodland owners be wiped out financially by a disease it allowed into the country or by making it
impossible to harvest their timber, and at the same time advocate that more people should sign up to forestry.”
At the meeting it was agreed that the inadequate Ash dieback plan must be amended, with urgency, as it fails to implement the recommendations of the ash dieback review report. Ash plantation owners must be fairly compensated for the losses if there is to be any chance of reinstating landowner confidence in growing trees. The compulsion to replant when a forest is destroyed by disease must be removed from the legislation, this policy is counterproductive and possibly unconstitutional.
LTWO Ltd backs the call for an independent expert forestry group to direct future forestry policy and that we need a dedicated Minister specifically to resolve this on-going forestry crisis. All involved in forestry are urged to raise these issues if canvassed during the election.