Forest recreation generates €268m

FOREST-RELATED tour-ism and recreation activities in Coillte plantations generate an estimated €268 million of economic activity for the rural economy every year, it was disclosed yesterday.

Coillte, which has 11 forest parks and more than 150 recreation sites countrywide, welcomes more than 18 million visitors each year to its forests and manages more than 52% of all off road national trails.

The statistics were revealed at the launch of a €5.3m initiative by Coillte, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, which will provide outdoor recreation facilities for walkers and cyclists.

Fáilte Ireland is funding the delivery of 250km of walking, hiking and biking trails to the highest standard, at 34 sites across the country, including upgrading of existing trails and construction of new ones.

New signage at these sites will also increase public awareness of the access to the countryside that Coillte lands provide. A new Coillte outdoors website — www.coillteoutdoors.ie — also allows anyone interested in outdoor recreation to research and plan activities from their computers.

Forestry Minister Mary Wallace and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív jointly launched the “Welcome Initiative” and the website at Coillte’s headquarters in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.

Ms Wallace said recreational tourism has significant benefits in terms of rural development as changes in agriculture means that rural economies will need to look at new sources of income.

Mr Ó Cuív said that Coillte, as the country’s largest landowner and as a member of Comhairle na Tuaithe, has a key role in facilitating access to countryside recreation with positive health and economic benefits for both rural and urban communities.