Forestry group expands to offer online advice on industry income

Forest Enterprises Ltd has opened new offices in Kanturk, Co Cork, and Ballisodare, Co Sligo, as part of its expansion plans.

The company has also launched a website featuring a forestry income estimator, and a thinning tool to work out when plantations are ready for first thinning.

Founded in 1990, the company manages over 24,000 acres of commercial forests and offers advice on investment, farmer forestry, and woodland estate management.

Shane McEntee, minister of state for agriculture, food, and the marine, said: “The value of the growing sector within the forest industry [that is, excluding the processing sector] to the Irish economy was €673m in 2010.

“Forestry also provides a range of other benefits including rural employment, valuable exports, climate change mitigation, social, and recreational benefits and environmental value.

“It is appropriate that we develop the industry through forest grants and premiums to landowners, as demonstrated by the allocation of almost €112m to the forestry development programme for 2012.”