01/12: 01 December 2005 - Woodland League Present Forestry Report to EU Commissioners
Andrew St.Ledger, PRO and Brendan Kelly, Liaison Officer, of the Woodland League, a not-for-profit NGO dedicated to restoring the relationship between people and their native woodlands, have returned recently from Brussels (21st-24th November) where they presented a comprehensive report titled ‘Irish Forest Policy – A Citizen’s Perspective’ to the EU Commission. They had frank and courteous discussions with Mr Ignacio Seone (Commissioner for Forestry, Directorate General Agriculture), Mr Andreas Lillig (Commissioner for Rural Development, DG Agri), Mr Piero Mora (Principal Administrator Rural Development, DG Agri) and Mr Liam Cashman (Principal Administrator Infringements, DG Environment).
The Report covers major environmental, social and economic issues concerning current Irish forestry policy which are impacting on communities throughout the country. These include acidification of rivers, lakes and soil; the lack of an official native tree planting policy; inadequate Environmental Impact Assessments; aerial fertilisation and eutrophication; lack of public consultation; the sale of publicly owned forests to speculators and multi-nationals; eco-label certification of forestry.
Brendan and Andrew went to Brussels at the invitation of Kathy Sinnott (Independent Munster MEP elected on people issues) to whom they wish to thank for her hospitality, good will and assistance from her office staff.
While in Brussels, the pair requested meetings with Marian Harkin (Independent MEP), who was unfortunately unavailable but sent her apologies, and Mary Lou MacDonald (Sinn Fein MEP) who granted them almost two hours of her time in a very productive meeting where she received the Woodland League Report for consideration; for this they would like to thank Ms MacDonald.
They also had a meeting with Ms Leontien Krul of the international forestry NGO ‘FERN’ who have an office in Brussels where they are permanently lobbying the EU on forestry issues. They are deeply concerned with the increasing certification of industrial tree plantations with eco-label status and received the Woodland League Report as a welcome addition to their lobbying arguments.
The last port of call was the office of the World Wildlife Fund. This is where EU funds go towards certification schemes including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). WWF also accepted a copy of the Report.
The Woodland League would like to appeal to those not blinded by the glamour and illusion of what is referred to as the ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy to realise the most important habitat on this island, i.e. the native trees, are also the most unprotected and most maligned aspect of our environment. The native trees confer stability of soil, air and water – vital functions for a healthy society. Perhaps we have forgotten that our health is our wealth and we only borrow the Earth ? Less than one per cent of trees in Ireland are native and these are under continuous threat. Stand up for your native trees – help protect, conserve, enhance and increase the native tree cover on this island for all the known benefits.
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The report will be available shortly from the Woodland League website – www.woodlandleague.org
For more information, please contact Andrew St. Ledger at 087-9933157, Brendan Kelly at 086-1529176 or Ciarán Hughes at 087-9652992.
E-mail at woodlandleague@yahoo.ie
The Report covers major environmental, social and economic issues concerning current Irish forestry policy which are impacting on communities throughout the country. These include acidification of rivers, lakes and soil; the lack of an official native tree planting policy; inadequate Environmental Impact Assessments; aerial fertilisation and eutrophication; lack of public consultation; the sale of publicly owned forests to speculators and multi-nationals; eco-label certification of forestry.
Brendan and Andrew went to Brussels at the invitation of Kathy Sinnott (Independent Munster MEP elected on people issues) to whom they wish to thank for her hospitality, good will and assistance from her office staff.
While in Brussels, the pair requested meetings with Marian Harkin (Independent MEP), who was unfortunately unavailable but sent her apologies, and Mary Lou MacDonald (Sinn Fein MEP) who granted them almost two hours of her time in a very productive meeting where she received the Woodland League Report for consideration; for this they would like to thank Ms MacDonald.
They also had a meeting with Ms Leontien Krul of the international forestry NGO ‘FERN’ who have an office in Brussels where they are permanently lobbying the EU on forestry issues. They are deeply concerned with the increasing certification of industrial tree plantations with eco-label status and received the Woodland League Report as a welcome addition to their lobbying arguments.
The last port of call was the office of the World Wildlife Fund. This is where EU funds go towards certification schemes including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). WWF also accepted a copy of the Report.
The Woodland League would like to appeal to those not blinded by the glamour and illusion of what is referred to as the ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy to realise the most important habitat on this island, i.e. the native trees, are also the most unprotected and most maligned aspect of our environment. The native trees confer stability of soil, air and water – vital functions for a healthy society. Perhaps we have forgotten that our health is our wealth and we only borrow the Earth ? Less than one per cent of trees in Ireland are native and these are under continuous threat. Stand up for your native trees – help protect, conserve, enhance and increase the native tree cover on this island for all the known benefits.
------------
The report will be available shortly from the Woodland League website – www.woodlandleague.org
For more information, please contact Andrew St. Ledger at 087-9933157, Brendan Kelly at 086-1529176 or Ciarán Hughes at 087-9652992.
E-mail at woodlandleague@yahoo.ie
Ciaran Hughes wrote: