Killeen invites submissions for review of state forestry policy

A REVIEW of state forestry policy, including the role of Coillte and its functions and operations, and the effectiveness of current forestry grant schemes has been launched.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Tony Killeen, who launched the process, invited submissions for this wide-ranging review and urged people to avail of this opportunity.

He said it was particularly appropriate the consultation phase had commenced during National Tree Week, which continues until Saturday.

The theme of this year’s Tree Week is to encourage people to make a renewed effort to go out and plant more trees. This year, 15,000 trees sponsored by Coillte, will be distributed to community groups by local authorities all over the country. Mr Killeen said that a lot of people now recognise and appreciate the many non-timber benefits of forests.

But it is also important to acknowledge that the forestry sector, encompassing growing, harvesting and processing of forest products, employs significant numbers, especially in rural Ireland.

Urging people to make a renewed effort to plant forests, Mr Killeen said that afforestation is required for the continuity of this sector and the many other benefits derived from forests.