Bertie plants a tree but slashes forestry budget

AS a student of forestry, I was surprised to read Bertie Ahern’s comments (Irish Examiner, February 3) detailing Ireland’s commitments to the Kyoto protocol and how tree-planting helps to reduce carbon dioxide levels.

Trees and forests are excellent ‘carbon sinks’, not to mention their benefit for recreation, landscape and the rural economy. What Mr Ahern failed to mention was that his Government has reduced the forestry budget by some 40% and instead of the Government target of 20,000 hectares being planted this year, only some 10,000 hectares will be set.

A recent COFORD study revealed that these cutbacks will cause a reduction in economic activity of an estimated 58 million with the loss of 1,350 full-time jobs, much of these in rural areas.

The impact of this not only on rural economies but also on Ireland’s Kyoto commitments is likely to be significant.

When all this is considered, Bertie Ahern’s comments appear more than a little tongue-in-cheek. While I welcome his tree-planting act, perhaps he should consider practising what he preaches.

Neal McGovern,

Uragh,

Swanlinbar,

Co Cavan.