Minister launches Coillte Premium Partners

MINISTER for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, was in Macroom last week to launch Coillte Premium Partners, a new private forestry partnership product by the national forestry company.

Coillte Premium Partners is targeting landowners of high quality, commercial forest crops where the forest service payments have expired.

Through the partnership, Coillte will manage all aspects of the forest including harvesting and selling the timber while the landowners retain ownership of the land.

The forestry owners would receive an annual payment under the new scheme.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Creed said “I am delighted to launch this innovative scheme which supports Irish forest owners and creates new value in the rural economy through the mobilisation of timber from privately owned forests.

Coillte CEO Fergal Leamy said “As Ireland’s leading commercial forestry company, we are looking forward to building strong partnerships with private forestry owners across the country that will allow them to get the best value from their forest plantation.

Forest cover in Ireland is currently at 11%, with over 150,000ha of privately owned forests planted following several state incentives including the payment of planting grant and annual payments for 15 to 20 years.