Report blasts forestry cutbacks

A REDUCTION in forestry funding by the Government was described as unjustifiable in a report published yesterday.

The independent report by Peter Bacon and Associates, Economic Consultants, was commissioned by the Irish Forest Industry Chain (IFIC), the IFA and the Forestry Self Assessment Companies.

It says it makes economic and environmental sense for the Government to stick to its 1996 commitment to fund the development of 20,000 hectares of new forests annually.