Bringing people back to their native forests
A document mentioned in the article was released by the EU Agriculture and Food Commission (which recently audited Irish forestry) and indicates how seriously sustainable forestry is viewed for the future of rural areas in the EU.
Sustainable forestry management is the bedrock upon which all other sustainability development depends. This was agreed and recognised at the Earth Summit in Rio 1992, and reinforced by the 1993 Convention on Biological diversity, which stated that the conservation and development of multiuse woodlands was the key to biodiversity conservation and improvements.
The ability of native woodlands to manage air soil and water resources is unmatched. Therefore, all life is enhanced by the encouragement of these processes. For example, a mature native sessile oak tree is host to over 500 species of life, from insects to mammals to micro-organisms to birds, as well as managing air soil and water.
The EU document indicates that the 1998 EU sustainable forest management plans have failed for Ireland, although the way the public views the forests has changed.
The environmental and social benefits of forestry are huge, notwithstanding the economic benefits. However, economists are not trained to recognise these benefits as having value. Plantations do not fit into this category.
A particular raft of EU forestry grants was aimed at small foresters and rural communities. Unfortunately, in Ireland, Coillte (the Irish Forestry Board) attempted to vacuum up this money by claiming to be a private entity.
After complaints to the EU Commission, the commission ruled that Coillte is a State/public entity, and must return the grant monies it received (up to 2002, they received €8.25m).
Plantation forestry bypasses the local community. The tree is treated completely as a cash crop by Coillte.
The Woodland League aims to restore the relationship between people (communities) and their native woodlands, networking with like minds, establishing native nurseries, and generally raising awareness of the importance of local trees for local conditions in conjunction with the international biological treaties Ireland has signed up for.
Andrew St Ledger
Woodland League PRO
Caherawoneen
Kinvara
Co Galway
