The Woodland League are pleased that the Forest Service and the Irish Courts took action to uphold Environmental Law when a €10,000 fine was issued against a man for the illegal felling of 6,000 trees - 12 acres of a mixed/native woodland at Cullaun, near Tulla, Co Clare - last Thursday the 1st of September.

Although we believe that this is the biggest fine issued for a breach of the Forestry Act of 1946, we feel that the fine issued was far too low. The maximum fine is €63 per tree, whereas the fine issued was just €1.67 per tree, approx 2.5% of the maximum.

We are calling on Minister John Browne to order the replanting of this area with native trees, as is his remit under the 1946 Forestry Act. Native Woodlands are our natural heritage, and considering that this is the start of Heritage Week, it is appropriate that Minister Browne order the replanting as such.

It is futile to strive for balance between man-made systems and eco-systems unless in parallel immediate action is taken to restore eco-systems that have been destroyed illegally.

We wish for the new forestry act to be developed with full consultation with local communities and NGOs as required under Local Agenda 21 and the Aarhus Convention Agreement, and to reflect the necessity for the restoration of destroyed eco-systems, the balance between man-made systems and eco-systems and the reality that is climate change.

The above can be verified by contacting the Ennis District Court

Contact: Andrew St. Ledger, PRO of the Woodland League
087-9652992 woodlandleague@yahoo.ie www.woodlandleague.org
c/o Ciaran Hughes, Caherawoneen, Kinvara, Co. Galway, Ireland.