The IFA National Council has supported the resolution from Leitrim IFA that an assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts of afforestation within the county should be undertaken.
In a statement this evening the IFA President Joe Healy said “The level of afforestation within the county is disproportionate particularly when you consider that the land area in Leitrim accounts for just 2.2% of the total land area in the country. The lack of balanced regional spread in the afforestation programme must be addressed”.
Joe Healy and other senior officials from the organisation visited the county last Thursday and Mr. Healy says he saw first-hand the impact the level of forest cover was having on farm families and rural communities. “Forestry represents a permanent land use change and it’s important that the social, economic and environmental impacts on rural communities are assessed.”
Joe Healy said he would be seeking a meeting with Minister Doyle to get a commitment to fund an independent study in Co. Leitrim on the impacts on afforestation.
IFA Farm Forestry Chairman Pat Collins said that the removal of the farmer premium differential under the current programme is central to much of the opposition to forestry. “The land is no longer owned by people living within the communities and any monies earned from grants, premiums and further timber earnings are leaving the local economy”.
He said, “As a result of the removal of the farmer premium differential, the perception of forestry among those living in rural Ireland has changed dramatically. A study on the social, economic and environmental impacts would help inform the debate and allow communities to plan appropriately”.
In response to this statement this evening, Leitrim IFA has welcomed the move but says until it has a full understanding of afforestation in the county the branch will remain opposed to any further conifer plantations.
Meanwhile a similar call was made at Leitrim County Council this week for such an assessment to be carried out.
Independent Councillor Gerry Dolan made the calls but said he was disappointed that the Council Executive felt it was a futile exercise to carry out such a study:
