Forestry adds €1.65bn to Irish economy

THE forestry and wood products sector contribute more than €1.65 billion annually to the economy.

Forestry Minister Mary Wallace said: “While this is a considerable contribution, the other benefits of forestry including recreation, carbon sequestration and energy, are non timber-benefits that are of major additional value.”

Ms Wallace said that the price of timber had increased by 20% to 25% in the past 18 months. As demand rises for this renewable product, so must the returns to the producers, she said.

She was speaking during weekend visits to two Coillte panel board factories, Smartply in Belview, Co Kilkenny, and Medite in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

SmartPly Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coillte, employs 170 people directly and processes more than 500,000 tonnes of thinnings from Irish forests.

Medite Europe, part of the Coillte group, employs 160 people and supports a number of indirect jobs in harvesting, transport and maintenance.

Ms Wallace said that in encouraging farmers and landowners to plant, it is important that they are fully aware of the markets available for their crops.

While the emphasis on sources of renewable energy generally is creating a significant market for wood, it is equally important that farmers are fully aware of the existing and ever increasing need of wood products, particularly thinning, for the wood processing industry in Ireland, she said.