Leitrim forestry group demands a role in Department review
Linda McLoughlin, dairy farmer, from Aughavas
“Our oldest son drives to Dublin because there’s no hope of getting a job in Leitrim. We need investment in Leitrim — that’s the bottom line. Our young people need to be able to farm and get planning permission and not be bought out by foreign investment funds buying land for forestry.”
James Martin, suckler farmer, from Carrick-on-Shannon
“The biggest challenge we have is excessive forestry. We are encouraging a rethink of what type of trees should be planted. Leitrim is seen as an area of the country that is planted but planting is decimating parishes and it’s driving people off the land. If we want to improve the quality of life, we need to get the balance of trees we plant right and look at the bigger vision for the future of our region.”
Brendan Barry, suckler farmer, from Drumshanbo
“I think the review will just be another exercise where they will try to enforce the figures of employment it’s generating. I’d like to see the money they are generating to be kept in the county. I live beside a forestry plantation but my grandfather and father farmed our land. It’s not good land but we make a living from it and I hope my children can do the same.”
PadraicPadraic Fogarty,Fogarty, IrishIrish WildlifeWildlife TrustTrust
“The review sounds like a hastily arranged response to the protest. We want something more meaningful. If you want to make a quick buck then Sitka spruce is attractive but we are advocating a continuous forestry cover model made up of native trees that will protect the environment.” FARMERS and environmental groups must be involved in preparing the Leitrim afforestation review, campaigners have demanded.
They are calling for the involvement of a cross-section of farmers, local people and environmental groups to be involved in the preparation of the report.
“We need to see the terms of reference of the review. We’re very sceptical of it and don’t have much faith,” said a Save Leitrim spokesperson.“We’re afraid that the Department will rubber stamp the same figures they always give us about employment generation.”
“We need balance from people who are aware of the socio-economic issues that are affecting the coun- ty because forestry is completely decimating our communities.”
Protest
Save Leitrim held a protest outside the Dáil last week and called for a moratorium on planting until the review is completed.
Minister of State for Forestry Andrew Doyle has announced that senior lecturer in Agriculture and Forestry at UCD, Dr Aine Ní Dhubháin, will lead an independent study on afforestation in Leitrim.
The Department of Agriculture stated that the terms of reference for the study are currently being finalised. “Full stakeholder consultation will be provided.” It added that “a moratorium on existing (forestry) activity is not possible and the scheme remains open to all landowners.”