Coillte denies it is being held to ransom by pearl mussel restrictions

COILLTE has denied it is being held to ransom for millions of euro in lost revenue by a small mollusc.

Last May the government imposed a moratorium on clear felling of trees in areas which are catchment areas for the pearl mussel, a protected creature under European law whose population is highest in this country. That came after high levels of pollution were detected in the waters.

The mussel is an indicator of water quality as it is extremely sensitive to pollution and can suffocate as a result of it.

National Parks and Wildlife officials have been quoted as being “stunned” by the amount of fertiliser being used by Coillte on areas of forestation.

One study in the Cloosh forest in Galway phosphorous levels in the water from fertilisation and clear felling were 40 times the accepted limit.

The Department of Agriculture has said clear felling has been prohibited in 25 river catchment areas and there was now a ban on new planting as well. Studies are being carried out to decide what kind of forestry might be more suitable in these areas.

However, according to Coillte, forestation activities are only a small part of the problem for the mussel in Irish waters, with much of the pollution coming from agricultural activities and sewage.

It said an indication of this is that the pearl mussel is also in decline in areas where there is no forestation.

Coillte general secretary Gerry Egan said new guidelines which are imminent from the Government will mean it can once again work in the areas.

“We expect the guidelines will be issued shortly which will allow the moratorium to be lifted and forestation operations to be carried out subject to certain conditions which will provide for the protection of the mussel.”

He said that, despite reports that Coillte was losing millions of euro as a result of the forestation restrictions, it would only be making big losses if it could never forest in those areas.

It said that it fully expected to be operating in them again once the Government guidelines are published.

He said his industry has been a part of the creation of the new guidelines and was not against them. “We are subject ourselves to a rigorous independent audit each year from an international body, the Forestry Stewardship Council. It ensures we responsibly manage the forests and would not certify us each year if we were harming the environment.”