Western Forestry Co-Op claims Government ”turning back” on rural Ireland

2023-01-15

The Government is being accused of preparing to turn its back on rural Ireland over a major forestry plan. It's after Coillte recently announced a partnership with a UK investment fund which aims to create a portfolio of 12 thousand hectares of forest land. It's part of a strategic plan to create 100 thousand hectares of new forestry by 2050. But the Western Forestry Co-Op claims removing land from rural ownership, local communities and local economies is a major misstep. Other groups lik...

The Government is being accused of preparing to turn its back on rural Ireland over a major forestry plan.

It's after Coillte recently announced a partnership with a UK investment fund which aims to create a portfolio of 12 thousand hectares of forest land.

It's part of a strategic plan to create 100 thousand hectares of new forestry by 2050.

But the Western Forestry Co-Op claims removing land from rural ownership, local communities and local economies is a major misstep.

Other groups like the IFA and a wide range of forestry organisations have also voiced opposition to the plans.

Marina Conway of the Western Forestry Co-Op says that farmers are being unfairly excluded.

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