A local representative for the Irish forestry sector is warning that the purchase of large quantity of lands by Coillte and a British investor will have devastating consequences for the North West region.
A number of organisations in the Irish forestry sector have condemned a decision by the State-owned body to work with a British investor to purchase 12,000 hectares of woodland.
They say that 2.1 billion Euro of taxpayer’s money is assisting a foreign entity which will ultimately drive those in forestry out of the sector.
A London-based fund, Gresham House, is giving Coillte 200 million Euro to try and reach a target of 18 per cent forest cover.
Marina Conway, of the Western Forestry co-op based in Sligo, says this decision will see the death of certain communities around the North West:
