Forestry sector warns cuts to the planting rate puts 2,000 jobs at risk

THE forestry sector has warned that Government cuts in the sector are going to cost jobs at a time when every action should be taken to protect employment.

It called on the Government to reverse planned cuts to the current planting rate of 7,000 hectares per annum.

The Irish Forestry and Forestry Products Association (IFFPA), a business sector within IBEC, also urged the Government to increase the planting rate to 10,000 ha/annum to which it was previously committed.