Coillte’s care for the environment

COILLTE refutes the allegations made by Dr Roderick O’Sullivan (The Irish Examiner Letters, March 5).

Coillte manages its forests to the highest international standards and, in May 2006, received renewal of its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This independent certification involves extensive audits and inspections of all of Coillte’s processes and procedures by an international firm of environmental auditors. This process confirms that Coillte’s forests are managed in a manner which is economically, environmentally and socially responsible.

Dr O’Sullivan claims the British forestry authority ceased plantation of conifers 18 years ago. In fact, The Forestry Commission there planted 81% conifers and 19% broadleaves in 2006. In Scotland, which has conditions similar to the Republic of Ireland, 91% conifers were planted compared with 9% broadleaves in 2006.

In relation to the point made about the suitability of mountain soil for conifer growth, the letter-writer misrepresents the reality. Forestry policy does not permit new planting on highly sensitive peatland soils or sites where the timber productivity potential is low.

In respect of the use of pesticides, it is eight years since Coillte used the product Lindane mentioned by the writer. At that time, it was fully authorised for use as a forest insecticide by the Pesticides Control Service of the Department of Agriculture and the EU.

Coillte has an extremely responsible approach to the use of chemicals and pesticides. It has been the leader in the forest industry on the safe use of pesticides and its performance is regularly independently assessed by the Health and Safety Authority and by the Soil Association which audits it on behalf of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Coillte is also the only land-user able to provide the river basin district boards with a complete inventory of the quantities, type, time of application of pesticides used in the respective catchments for the past five years.

The Forestry and Aerial Fertilisation Guidelines 2001 and Statutory Instrument No 592 on Aerial Fertilisation introduced in 2006 lay out strict criteria on what sites can be aerially fertilised, application rate, protection measures and timing of application.

Contrary to the opinion expressed by the letter writer, 92% of elemental phosphorus applied in 2006 was applied manually. Regarding aerial application, the use of GPS guidance systems in the helicopters to record flight patterns is obligatory to ensure the accuracy of fertiliser treatment. Sites are continually assessed to determine accuracy and evenness of the application. Water monitoring is conducted on all aerially fertilised sites before, during and after the process to monitor the accuracy of the application and ensure minimal impact on water quality.

Results from Coillte’s water monitoring programme and the findings of various independent studies do not support the author’s allegations in relation to water quality.

Tim Crowley

Managing Director

Coillte Forest

Coillte Teoranta

Dublin Road

Newtownmountkennedy

Co Wicklow