Friends' Work

// 30 December: 'Gross misrepresentation' in Irish Forestry Report to UN

Friends of the Irish Environment [FIE} have called on the Forest Service to amend its Forestry Report to the United Nations to eliminate what it terms 'gross misrepresentations'. FIE's response reveals how the Forest Service misleads third parties about the state of Irish forestry. While purporting to support sustainable initiatives like Continuous Cover Forestry [CCF], the truth is that the State Forestry Board has less than 0.25% CCF and continues to plant over 90% exotic species. Perhaps worst of all, the Report list 8 bodies in the NGO sector that it supports when the Minister clearly stated in the Dail that no funds would be provided for the one ENGO that is now prescribed under the legislation for consultation on forestry applications. Read More or see the full text of Government Report to UN and FIE's response

The Report has been prepared for the Fourth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forestry in May of 2004. It was sent out for consultation on December 8 with a deadline for responses of 22 December.

A spokesman for FIE said that 'At the outset, the consultation period for comments on the Report was entirely inadequate and timely requests for extensions were refused on the last day.'

In their submission to the Department, FIE claims that 'while purporting to support sustainable initiatives like Continuous Cover Forestry [CCF], the truth is that the Coillte Teo., the State Forestry Board, has less than 0.25% CCF and continues to plant over 90% exotic species.'

The organisations claims that the Report grossly misrepresents Ireland's actual acehivements in moving towards brodleaves by giveing 'great prominence to the Native Woodland Scheme. Wjhat the Report fails to mention is that government cut backs have all but halted this project. 'In any case, the Native Woodland Scheme does not envisage any new green field native plantings, confining itself to restoration of existing remnant woodlands.'

Further, the group claims that the Forest Service is praising itself for introducing a protocol to control the acidification from forestry which has damaged streams and rivers, but fails to explain that the Protocol does not apply to the more than 8,000 hectares per year of reforestation.

Perhaps worst of all, the Report list 8 bodies in the ENGO sector that the Forest Service supports when the Minister clearly stated in the Dail that no funds would be provided for the one ENGO that is now prescribed under the legislation for consultation on forestry applications. The Minister is well aware that without funding, consultation with Irish environmental organisations is meaningless as they do not have the resources to respond.

While the consultation document comments have been submitted to Dermot Ahern as Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the organisation has also written directly to Joe Walsh as Forestry is being transferred from Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on January 1.

'If the Government does not take on board our criticisms, we will be bringing these gross misrepresentations directly to the attention of the United Nations Forum on Forestry' an angry spokesman for the organisation stated.

See the full text of Government Report to UN and FIE's response