The State is to again buy land for forestry to meet climate change targets.

The plan announced by forestry agency Coillte this week to turn some State forests into recreational areas is very welcome.

State-owned forestry company Coillte is targeting the end of July as the completion date for the establishment of its planned wind energy joint-venture with the ESB and the deadline for unveiling its new group chief executive.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has teamed up with the State-owned forestry business Coillte to combat wildfires using drones.

The Department of Agriculture has issued a warning about the risk of forest fires this week.

Cork County Council officials are looking at the possibility of creating a special walkway for children with autism, which is believed would be the first of its type in the country.

From 2010 to 2015, the cost to the State of tackling nearly 7,000 gorse, forest, and bog fires was over €6m.

Coillte has estimated that recovery costs arising from this week’s destructive gorse fires in Co Galway will total at least €3m to €4m if not more.

LATEST: Air Corps Captain Sean McCarthy says today has been a more successful one for crews trying to tackle the forest fire in Co Galway, before warning that dry conditions could yet cause the blaze to grow.

Gorse fires can occur naturally, but there is a strong suspicion that many, if not the majority, are as a result of arson designed to clear land for grazing.

This seems like the perfect place to get away from all the distractions of modern life.

A post by Redditor, DaveFlanagan, has asked an interesting question on reddit.

Coillte spends €450k a year cleaning up litter. We meet the contractor who’s out to bust the dumpers. Are bin charges to blame? asks Donal O’Keeffe

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Coillte is to switch from a sale to a lease model with regard to non-core land assets in a bid to generate recurring income.

SIGHTINGS of the great spotted woodpecker were once rare in Ireland. However, there’s now clear evidence that the bird is not only breeding here, but is spreading around the country from its original base in the east coast.

Environmentalists are ramping up pressure on Coillte to end the use of a hazardous pesticide in State forests.

State forestry body, Coillte plans to build six wind farms over the nextthree years, which will ultimately have the capacity to provide electricity for 210,000 homes.

Coillte has dismissed criticism of a massive tree-felling operation in one of the State’s largest national parks, insisting the work had to be done.

The trustees of Coillte’s pension plan have staked a claim to €20m worth of state-owned forestry following a secret settlement to their High Court dispute.

Profits at commercial semi-state forestry company Coillte increased by nearly 70% last year.

Meet the queens of the Stone Age, who’ve proved they just don’t build them like they used to anymore.

Coillte has begun a massive tree-felling operation in a bid to prevent the spread of a fungal disease through a scenic forest park.

Details have emerged of an extraordinary row between Coillte and the Department of Agriculture over the forestry company’s effort to pay its departing chief executive back-dated bonuses.

THROUGHOUT the economic crisis, the board of one of the State’s largest commercial companies was doggedly scrapping with its shareholder — the minister for agriculture.

One of the country’s most scenic forest parks, Gougane Barra in West Cork, is set to close for up to six months to allow for the felling of thousands of trees affected by fungal disease.

RATHBARRY, CASTLEFREKE AND THE LONG STRAND (CLONAKILTY)

Taoiseach Enda Kenny gave no sartorial hint as to what team he will be supporting in tomorrow’s All-Ireland hurling final replay.

Selling the state forest industry would only generate enough cash to pay three weeks’ interest on the nation’s debts but could threaten 12,000 jobs, forestry workers have warned.

The sale of harvesting rights of State forestry company Coillte will be reviewed by the Cabinet in two weeks when it receives a report from ministers overseeing the option of selling the assets.

The privatisation of the State’s forestry agency, Coillte, “looks more un-likely every day”, according to Pat Rabbitte, the minister for communications.

Locals are helping to conserve the terrain for future generations, says Dan MacCarthy

COILLTE chief executive David Gunning has bowed to Government pressure and volunteered to have his €297,000 salary cut by 15%.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has upped the pressure on Coillte chief executive David Gunning to take a 15% cut to his €297,000 salary.

Minister for Communications and Energy Pat Rabbitte has said it is regrettable that the chief executive of Coillte has not yet accepted a reduction in his salary.