Government's foresty policy is 'unsustainable', says Mayo councillor
Cllr Gerry Murray has said the Government's forestry policy is unsustainable and a review is needed
The Government’s forestry policy is unsustainable and a Mayo county councillor has called for a major review.
Sinn Fein Charlestown-based representative Gerry Murray stated he is contacted in relation to forestry issues on a weekly basis.
"These vary from new plantings to maturing forestry, subsequent extractions destroying local roads and culverts, farmland flooded due to forestry drains not being maintained," he said.
“Farmers are now unable to compete for land with pension and investment funds, who are currently buying up agriculture land, as well as mature forestry or forestry where the subsidies have expired."
Cllr Murray outlined in term of county development plans and schedules of development levies, public representatives are told that in the absence of national legislation they cannot impose road levies on forestry extraction.
“Much of the forestry that is harvested produces a very low-grade pulp and very little quality timber, its contribution to biodiversity is zero, and its impact on the environment ranges from the extensive use of hazardous pesticides that kills all insects to algae blooms and oxygen depletion in our rivers and lakes," he said. “Our current forestry policy is unsustainable. The time has now come to set up a state-owned land consolidation corporation that will veto all forestry land sales subject to public consultation and statutory engagements with local farmers and communities."
Cllr Murray stated such a model exists in Spain and there is no reason why it cannot be replicated in Ireland.
