Farmers urged to consider forestry

MORE than 40,000 farmers are being encouraged to convert part of their land to forestry to boost their incomes and rural employment, under a new campaign launched today.

The National Forest Strategy is aiming to cover 17% of the Republic with forest by 2030 as Ireland currently has the lowest level of forestry among the 25 EU States.

Mary Wallace, Minister of State for Forestry, said: “While forest cover has increased substantially over the past 15 years, Ireland still has the lowest level of forestry in the 25 EU member states.