Forest fires damage could reduce raw material for timber processors

THE recent damage to forests from land fires could reduce the raw material available for timber processors in local areas, according to Minister of State Seán Connick.

Speaking during a visit to the Smartply facility, in Belview, Waterford, he urged rural dwellers and visitors to the countryside to act with vigilance in relation to land fires.

His appeal followed a series of forest and bog fires in various parts of the country during the prolonged dry spell.

Coillte estimated that in one week last month some 1,500 acres of forests were burned. About half of it was Coillte-owned.

It said these fires were mainly as a result of fires being lit in a careless and dangerous way to burn off vegetation in close proximity to forests.

Coillte reminded people it is illegal to set fires in growing vegetation from March 1 to August 31.

During a recent visit to fire-damaged forests in the vicinity of the Blackstairs Mountains, Mr Connick said he was concerned about the potential risk to lives and livelihoods arising from such fires.

“Hundreds of hectares of woodland nationally have been lost and it has taken a lot of time and effort to bring the fires under control,” he said.

Mr Connick, announcing the reopening of the Forest Road Scheme during his visit to Smartply, said he is conscious it is essential to have the proper infrastructure to meet the needs of the timber sector.

“The provision of grant aid for the construction of forest roads will facilitate the extraction of timber from the private estate in a cost-effective manner to provide the raw material for sawmills,” he said.

Mr Connick said Smartply is an example of an Irish company using home-produced raw material in manufacturing to generate income for the state by selling its products abroad and supporting 160 jobs in the process at its plant in Belview.