An Overview of An Taisce’s Forestry Work
An Taisce has been raising concern about Irelands current forestry policy since Robert Lloyd Praeger, founder and first president of An Taisce, made an address broadcast by Radio Éireann on 10th. October 1948 on the establishment of An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland.
In this he refers to the need to curb the 'undue energy on the part of the Forestry Division for “regimented rows of incongruous conifers”, which are no desireable substitute for “the welcome freedom of the heather where human enjoyment is concerned”'.
An Taisce has since been seeking improved forestry practices, through
research; by seeking increased consideration of the environment in forestry policy and practice, including advising against our over-reliance on monoculture plantations of exotic conifers. The main environmnetal consequences of such heavy reliance of such forestry practice are habitat loss, deterioration of water quality and aquatic biodiversity, landscape and amenity impacts, and changes in archaeological setting of particular sites.
Under Forestry Acts the Forest Service refers private applications for approval of afforestation plans for grant aid under CAP funding to An Taisce. We assess hundreds of applications each year. We also receive no payment of funding from the state for this public service.
An Taisce makes comment on afforestation applications where there are
- likely impacts on Natura 2000 sites (sites of special conservation interest, also known as Special Areas of Conservation) and breaches of our obligations under European nature conservation law
- landscape impacts water quality issues (especially protected waterways & aquatic species)
- lack of compliance with forestry guidelines (e.g. no or inadequate broadleaf component, poorly recorded or implemented 'areas for biodiversity enhancement', water quality issues, landscape)
- highlight the need to make new legislation compliant with the EIA Directives;
- call for an end to the current replanting requirement, which causes much conifer reforestation in inappropriate locations damaging landscape, water, and natural habitats;
- request incorporation of the Forest Service Guidelines to a legal basis;
- call for felling license penalties;
- call for a review of section 12 of the 1988 Forestry Act which gives Coillte, The State Forestry Board, a purely commercial basis and limiting the extent to which they can carry out their mandate in a sustainable manner. As the largest land owner in Ireland and a state company, Coillte must have far greater consideration of the natural Environment, landscape, and amenities than what is currently called for in the 1988 Act.
See An Taisce’s submission to the derogation application from Coillte to continue the use of
Cypermethrin
In 2009 An Taisce received funding from the Heritage Council the project "Incorporating biodiversity considerations in afforestation grants". The Full copy of the report can be seen
here.