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FNN 177 - The Vanishing Hen Harrier

The Vanishing Hen harrier

The story of how the Hen harrier became the hostage to the ‘reckless populism of the IFA leadership’ with the areas to be designated reduced from 287,000 hectares to 169,000 hectares. At the demands of the IFA for the ‘constitutional right to achieve optimal returns on your asset’, a further 9,000 hectares of forestry are to be permitted even in the protected areas, though the population fell from 134 to 105 pairs  2000 – 2005 and the Parks and Wildlife Service itself admits that ‘the bottom line is that new planting represents a net loss of foraging habitat'. 

Other news

Row over new plan to protect endangered hen harriers. Coillte defends felling Lough Corrib wood. Agency questions State's forestry policy. Report calls for plans for forest biodiversity. Salvage logging from burned forests worsens later fires. Certification: Meeting to present the proposals for a new process leading to the development of a Sustainable Forestry Standard for Ireland in conjunction with the Forest Stewardship Council.  

Article of the week

Review of the Research and Information on Forestry’s Impact on the Hen Harrier

 

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Posted By Tony Lowes on 12/09/2007 ( Reads : 410 ) | Comments (0) |
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FNN 174: Clearfelling in Ireland

FOREST NETWORK NEWSLETTER

 ISSUE NUMBER 174

MARCH 29 2007

FREE BY EMAIL

FNN is pleased to return after a long absence. The editors intend to produce monthly issues during the remainder of 2007. Both the website and the mailer are about to be redesigned; until then this PDF is the only format available. Readers who wish to reproduce individual articles and have difficulty with this format may be able to extract them more easily from the website version at http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/fnn/

1. INTRODUCTION Clearfell and the environment

 2. LETTERS Woodlands of Ireland: cypermethrin derogation Forestry as carbon 'offsets' [Irish Times, unpublished]

3 PARLIAMENTARY REPLIES Planting rates and plans Fresh water Pearl mussel Waiving Felling License obligations for environmental reasons Implications of the Habitats Regulations for forestry No requirements for native trees? Brash removal

4. NEWS New protocol to protect hen harrier Killarney fencing in breach of Habitats Directive? Coillte denies pesticides threat to Sneem water

5. ARTICLE OF THE WEEK: Clearfell and the environment. Clearfelling and restoration near Castletownbere, County Cork Clearfell at Rossnacroo, Nr Kilgarvan , Co Kerry Clearfell Near Sneem, Co Kerry Clearfell and restoration at the Ballyhoura Mountains County Cork

6. ABOUT US

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Posted By the editors on 29/03/2007 ( Reads : 535 ) | Comments (0) |
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FNN 176: PART II: FSC Certification - Review of Woodmark's Audit of Coillte Teo

FOREST NETWORK NEWSLETTER ISSUE NUMBER 176

MONTHLY JUNE 2007

FREE BY E.MAIL

NEXT MONTH: Forestry and the hen harrier, how the deal was struck.

 1. INTRODUCTION Forest Stewardship Council's [FSC] Forestry Certification: frustrating sustainable forestry?

2. LETTERS Forestry certification is just a bad joke Stick to the facts Tony.

3. NEWS Coillte sells stake in Austrian venture [RTE Online] Biofuel bonanza expected from Norwegian wood [ENDS Environment Daily] 'Protected' Congo forest is logged regardless [New Scientist] Tree trade could save planet from global warming [New Scientist] Soybean boom spells bad news for climate[New Scientist]

4. ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Forest Stewardship Council's [FSC] Forestry Certification: frustrating sustainable forestry - Woodmark Forest Certification Public Report on Coillte Teo

5. ABOUT US

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Posted By the editors on 01/06/2007 ( Reads : 624 ) | Comments (0) |
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ASI and GMIT allegations against FIE

 

Statement by Friends of the Irish Environment on Allegations Made by Representatives of Accreditation Services International and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

 

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Friends of the Irish Environment - ASI and GMIT allegations against FIE
Posted By Tony Lowes on 05/11/2007 ( Reads : 217 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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The definition of peat soils

An anomaly has arisen in relation to the definition of ‘peat' within the Department of Agriculture.

 

The ‘Nitrates' Regulations 2006 [European Communities (Good Agriculture Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations, 2006 (S.I. No. of 2006)] Schedule 1 has been amended to clarify the definition of peat soils. This is given as ‘soils with an organic matter content exceeding 20%'. [Department of Environment, Press Release 19 July, 2006.]

 

However the definition of peat soils used by the Forest Service was given by the Minister for Agriculture in a written reply to a Parliamentary Question this April. The soils must constitute ‘a peat layer greater than 30 cm on drained peats and greater than 45 cm on undrained peats.' [13955/06]. No reference was made to the organic matter in the soil. For her authority, she referred the Deputy to the ‘Peatlands of Ireland, Soil Survey Bulletin' by R.F. Hammond, 1979.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - The definition of peat soils
Posted By Tony Lowes on 14/10/2007 ( Reads : 213 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 177 - The Vanishing Hen Harrier

The Vanishing Hen harrier

The story of how the Hen harrier became the hostage to the ‘reckless populism of the IFA leadership’ with the areas to be designated reduced from 287,000 hectares to 169,000 hectares. At the demands of the IFA for the ‘constitutional right to achieve optimal returns on your asset’, a further 9,000 hectares of forestry are to be permitted even in the protected areas, though the population fell from 134 to 105 pairs  2000 – 2005 and the Parks and Wildlife Service itself admits that ‘the bottom line is that new planting represents a net loss of foraging habitat'. 

Other news

Row over new plan to protect endangered hen harriers. Coillte defends felling Lough Corrib wood. Agency questions State's forestry policy. Report calls for plans for forest biodiversity. Salvage logging from burned forests worsens later fires. Certification: Meeting to present the proposals for a new process leading to the development of a Sustainable Forestry Standard for Ireland in conjunction with the Forest Stewardship Council.  

Article of the week

Review of the Research and Information on Forestry’s Impact on the Hen Harrier

 

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 177 - The Vanishing Hen Harrier
Posted By Tony Lowes on 12/09/2007 ( Reads : 410 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 176: PART II: FSC Certification - Review of Woodmark's Audit of Coillte Teo

FOREST NETWORK NEWSLETTER ISSUE NUMBER 176

MONTHLY JUNE 2007

FREE BY E.MAIL

NEXT MONTH: Forestry and the hen harrier, how the deal was struck.

 1. INTRODUCTION Forest Stewardship Council's [FSC] Forestry Certification: frustrating sustainable forestry?

2. LETTERS Forestry certification is just a bad joke Stick to the facts Tony.

3. NEWS Coillte sells stake in Austrian venture [RTE Online] Biofuel bonanza expected from Norwegian wood [ENDS Environment Daily] 'Protected' Congo forest is logged regardless [New Scientist] Tree trade could save planet from global warming [New Scientist] Soybean boom spells bad news for climate[New Scientist]

4. ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Forest Stewardship Council's [FSC] Forestry Certification: frustrating sustainable forestry - Woodmark Forest Certification Public Report on Coillte Teo

5. ABOUT US

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 176: PART II: FSC Certification - Review of Woodmark's Audit of Coillte Teo
Posted By the editors on 01/06/2007 ( Reads : 624 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 175: PART I: FSC Certification - frustrating sustainable forestry?
Forest Stewardship Council's [FSC] Forestry Certification: frustrating sustainable forestry? Letters: A review of the Irish Forestry Certification Initiative in Ireland . Mary Coughlan's last fling - Lets Coillte keep illegal €8 million payment. PQs: Unknown Amount of Reforestation continuing in areas protected by Acidification Protocol. Reforestation controlled by Guidelines.
Strategic Review of Coillte's Activities requested by Minister.
Recounting of €8 disallowed premia to be addressed.
Proceedings to be issued by EU over fresh water pearl mussel protection.
Fresh water pearl mussel Species protection plan due for public consultation.
No news of fresh water pearl mussel Guidelines.
Water quality above Q5 for fresh water pearl mussel sites. News: Land sales help forestry firm Coillte grow profits to €22.4m. Positive movement on forestry proposals. Worms go into battle against evil weevil.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 175: PART I: FSC Certification - frustrating sustainable forestry?
Posted By the editors on 29/04/2007 ( Reads : 524 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 174: Clearfelling in Ireland

FOREST NETWORK NEWSLETTER

 ISSUE NUMBER 174

MARCH 29 2007

FREE BY EMAIL

FNN is pleased to return after a long absence. The editors intend to produce monthly issues during the remainder of 2007. Both the website and the mailer are about to be redesigned; until then this PDF is the only format available. Readers who wish to reproduce individual articles and have difficulty with this format may be able to extract them more easily from the website version at http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/fnn/

1. INTRODUCTION Clearfell and the environment

 2. LETTERS Woodlands of Ireland: cypermethrin derogation Forestry as carbon 'offsets' [Irish Times, unpublished]

3 PARLIAMENTARY REPLIES Planting rates and plans Fresh water Pearl mussel Waiving Felling License obligations for environmental reasons Implications of the Habitats Regulations for forestry No requirements for native trees? Brash removal

4. NEWS New protocol to protect hen harrier Killarney fencing in breach of Habitats Directive? Coillte denies pesticides threat to Sneem water

5. ARTICLE OF THE WEEK: Clearfell and the environment. Clearfelling and restoration near Castletownbere, County Cork Clearfell at Rossnacroo, Nr Kilgarvan , Co Kerry Clearfell Near Sneem, Co Kerry Clearfell and restoration at the Ballyhoura Mountains County Cork

6. ABOUT US

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 174: Clearfelling in Ireland
Posted By the editors on 29/03/2007 ( Reads : 535 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 173: Permethrin, closing the regulatory cycle?
Permethrin, closing the regulatory cycle? Woodlands of Ireland wins €50 Book Token. Much better to live in a cocoon- Coillte Teo.'s repayment of grant money. Parliamentary Replies: Regulatory impact assessment of FPM Forestry Guidelines; Date of publication of FPM Forestry Guidelines; Hydrological impacts and dangerous substances and forestry; Extent of protection of fresh water pearl mussel; Forestry Planting Rate. Forestry plantation grants. Government must make commitment to forestry's role in renewable energy. RDS Forestry award winners. The Permethrin Submissions: INFF; Voice; An Taisce; FIE; Woodlands Of Ireland.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 173: Permethrin, closing the regulatory cycle?
Posted By the editors on 26/10/2006 ( Reads : 823 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 172: Parliamentary Replies show lack of education
Hostile and Unforgiving? Ministerial replies to forestry questions. Fresh water pearl mussel: the UK approach. Coillte Teo. vs. FNN [Link to audio file] Green argument used against replanting trees. Coillte grant aid to farmers. Review of 1996 Forestry Policy. Fresh Water Pearl Mussel Forestry Guidelines: full terms of reference. The Definition of Peat Soils. Foliar Analysis. Control of unauthorised forestry €50 book token for the best submission on Coillte Teo's application for derogation for the toxic chemical pesticide cypermethrin.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 172: Parliamentary Replies show lack of education
Posted By the editors on 04/10/2006 ( Reads : 828 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 171: The fresh water pearl mussel: the burden of proof
The fresh water pearl mussel: the burden of proof. LETTER FOR THE DE-CERTIFICATION OF COILLTE. Organizations from 8 countries demand the FSC withdraw certificates. Agricultural science community urged to join timber energy study. Solving the mysteries of our ancient woodlands. President of EU foresters says Ireland not alone in wishing to increase forest cover. Tissue mill could be boost for recycling. Cataloguing Threats To the Forests. Panama teak is the lure for Irish investors. INFORMATION NOTE OF THE WEEK: Margaritifera in the Owenriff River, Co. Galway, 2004. The end of forestry as we know it?

If you do nothing else, see these photos
extraordinary aerial photographs

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 171: The fresh water pearl mussel: the burden of proof
Posted By the editors on 09/09/2006 ( Reads : 1299 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 170: the 1927 Rural Electrification Act and the Bantry 16
The 1927 Rural Electrification Act and the Bantry 16.
Joe Barry, sceptic turned profiteer? Windfarm Developer Taking Action to Recover €1.75 million. European Commission adopts an EU Forest Action Plan. Coillte Social and Environmental Panel, South West. Drombroe: A Bantry Water Garden Rediscovered.

"I was shocked to realize I had allowed myself to be seduced by the Forestry Service's promotion of its Sustainable Forestry Programme and was starting to believe there really was a movement towards a more enlightened role for forestry in Ireland. I was once again reminded just how entrenched are the views of professionals involved with "forestry" and the absolute conviction that broadleaves have no value."
Ian Wright, in this week's REPORT of Coillte South West's Social and Environmental Panel.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 170: the 1927 Rural Electrification Act and the Bantry 16
Posted By the editors on 24/07/2006 ( Reads : 1045 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 169: Coillte's District Plans - data please
Coillte's District Plans, give me the data. The failure of Coilltes' plans to provide the monitoring data to enable us to evaluate their progress to sustainable forestry. Standish: who's paying the bill? Mussel Moratorium, Lough Ree. Ballyannan Wood management plan. Farmers urged to switch to forestry for income boost. New forestry fund . Review of Coillte Teo.'s District Strategic Plan South Kerry & West Cork .

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 169: Coillte's District Plans - data please
Posted By the editors on 09/07/2006 ( Reads : 781 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 168: Moratorium on felling to protect pearl mussel
Moratorium - The Good News and the Bad. FOI and Coillte Teo. Recent parliamentary questions - Moratorium on clearfelling - Margaritifera steering group terms of reference - Coillte's exclusion from forestry legislative review - NGO representation on the forestry review - Minutes of the forestry review. EC slam forestry policy. Timber 'incorrectly sold as certified by forest council', says Coillte. INFF Forestry Conference 6 October 2006: 2007, Forestry at the Crossroads.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 168: Moratorium on felling to protect pearl mussel
Posted By the editors on 20/06/2006 ( Reads : 886 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 167: Economic Attack on the Growing of Broadleaves
Part III: The value of broadleaves: sustainable forestry, hurdle discount rates, timber prices, production and 'negative discounted revenue'. PDF Version of FNN 'Economic Attack on the Growing of broadleaves' will be available shortly as a pdf. "He who sups with the devil needs a long spoon", Corporate hospitality and forestry. Coillte and The Cork Environmental Forum. Sustainable forestry illegal in Ireland? Request for submissions forestry acts 1928 to 1988. Bumper Christmas tree harvest. Be 'berry wary' children told in alert on festive plants.
FNN 167 AS PDF

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 167: Economic Attack on the Growing of Broadleaves
Posted By the editors on 27/12/2005 ( Reads : 1248 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 166: Economic Attack on the Growing of broadleaves. Peer Review.
Dinosaurs Die Hard: Part II of the Initial response to Henry Phillips's 'Economic Analysis of Broadleaf Afforestation'. Peer Group Reviews. An ex-Director of FSC USA and the past CEO of the Austrian Forest service. 'Phillips neither independent or qualified.' 'Brutal Irish forestry methods would never be permitted in another European Country.' Coillte's €5000 and The Cork Environmental Forum. The foreign conifer species that are polluting Ireland's water supply. EPA detects nine environmental breaches at Clare timber facility. Sawmill firm fined for toxic chemical discharges. PDF Version:
http://friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/pdf/fnn166.pdf

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 166: Economic Attack on the Growing of broadleaves. Peer Review.
Posted By the editors on 07/12/2005 ( Reads : 1035 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 165: Economic Attack On The Growing Of Broadleaves In Ireland
Dinosaurs Die Hard: The New Look Economic Attack On The Growing Of Broadleaves In Ireland. Initial responses to 'Economic Analysis of Broadleaf Afforestation' by Henry Phillips, Irish Forest Industry Chain.
The Phllips Report

Part I: The Coillte Estate; Quality Issues in Sitka spruce; Irish yield models and Rotation Lengths; Establishment and Reforestation costs. Support and encouragement to those who want to grow broadleaves? Coillte's €5000 and The Cork Environmental Forum: FNN, the Phoenix of Forestry? Forestry funding up by 18 per cent for 2006. Steeped in Greenhouse Gas, Pine Trees Deviate.

Coming:
The view from outside: peer reviews of the 'Economic Analysis of Broadleaf Afforestation' from Europe and America.
Part II of the Initial response. Timber Prices and production; hurdle discount rates.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 165: Economic Attack On The Growing Of Broadleaves In Ireland
Posted By the editors on 30/11/2005 ( Reads : 1154 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 164: Coillte and Lough Key Forest Park, no consultation again
Coillte and Lough Key Forest Park, no consultation again. Coillte Millennium Forest snub to FOI Commissioner. Roche Launches 13 New National Biodiversity Plan Initiatives. Coillte EU €8m clawback, who pays? Meeting of the Woodland League: WLL going to Brussels. Lough Key Forest Park Appeal. Background: Planning objections from outside the county have cast a dark shadow over Boyle. Lough Key Forest Park, Material Contravention for Newfoundland Consortium project. Appeal.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 164: Coillte and Lough Key Forest Park, no consultation again
Posted By the editors on 10/11/2005 ( Reads : 1452 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 163: New research reveals phosphate impact from forestry clearfell
New research reveals phosphate impact from forestry clearfell. Review: Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket peatland streams; Endangered plants persist under phosphorus limitation. Standish and Taneleth E. Millennium forest sweetheart deal. Cork Environmental Forum, FNN vague and mischievous? Minister to consider forestry planning signs. No date for new Forestry Act. Woodlands of Ireland. Unauthorised felling statistics.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 163: New research reveals phosphate impact from forestry clearfell
Posted By the editors on 03/11/2005 ( Reads : 1518 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 162: Help Find The Best Native Timber Trees
FNN 162: Help Find The Best Native Timber Trees; Coillte's Exclusion Policy Questioned; Five years later - Forestry Division, Coillte Teo and AIB secret deal revealed; Genetic improvement of ash and sycamore; Sale of Corrib site may have breached guidelines: Flynn; Planting grant increases backdated from January; Biodiversity in Irish Forestry.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 162: Help Find The Best Native Timber Trees
Posted By the editors on 27/10/2005 ( Reads : 1134 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 161: Standish Sawmill Granted: 34 Objections Remain
Standish Sawmill Saga: Planning Permission Granted - 34 Questions Remain. Ballyannon Wood, Middleton, Co. Cork. Former luminaries of State Forestry. Notification of forestry approvals to objectors. Red squirrels. Forestry planning and appeals. The Manch Project: Ronan O'Flaherty on the future of agriculture.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 161: Standish Sawmill Granted: 34 Objections Remain
Posted By the editors on 25/10/2005 ( Reads : 1273 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network
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FNN 160: Appealing against forestry consents.
Return of FNN Letter of the week: Forest Service's reasons for non-prosecution ofillegal felling. Ballyannon Wood, Middleton, Co. Cork. Lack of appeal result notification, legal validity? Coillte Certifiation Review, Excision Policy. Sudden Oak Death. Pruning. Parliamentary Questions: The ongoing costs of Irish forestry in annual payments; questions about the appeals process against forestry planting consents. FIE Allihies Weekend.

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Friends of the Irish Environment - FNN 160: Appealing against forestry consents.
Posted By the editors on 13/10/2005 ( Reads : 1525 ) | Comments (0) | Forestry Network