Social Partner calls for forests to remain in public hands

Social Partner calls for forests to remain in public hands   Dublin - 6th December, 2010. The Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership has warned that Ireland's forests are in danger of being sold off to reduce government debt, and is calling for them to remain in public hands. The group is urging the Government to issue a statement that it will not privatise Ireland's forest assets. "A sale of Irish Forests would not be in the best interests of the Irish public or their environment," said Michael Ewing, a spokesperson for the Pillar. "We have already seen oil, gas, and mineral rights sold off, impoverishing the nation on many levels."   Coillte (the Irish Forestry Board) manages over one million acres of forestry land on behalf of the Irish People. It was one of a number of agencies selected for possible privatisation by the McCarthy Report. In January of this year the International Forestry fund, chaired by Bertie Ahern TD expressed an interest in buying Coillte. The Pillar is strongly opposed to the sale of state forests covering an area twice the size of County Meath. It also has serious reservations about the involvement of a company chaired by a former Taoiseach who was privy to the appointment of Coillte directors and was responsible for some of the decisions that have brought us to the point of selling off such valuable assets.   The overall aim of the  Environmental Pillar is to find a new direction for forest policy in Ireland that balances environmental, social and economical needs. It is claimed that getting this balance correct will provide more employment opportunities at community level as well as addressing problems such as flooding, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss.   "Now more than ever we need to make the wisest use of our public forestry resources in order to create jobs and economic growth, with minimal investment," concluded Mr Ewing.   # # #   Please feel free to contact Danny Walsh, Communications Officer, Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership at danny@ien.ie for details or to arrange interviews with representatives of the Environmental Pillar.       Danny Walsh Communications Officer Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership 1 Green Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. http://www.environmentalpillar.ie Email: danny@ien.ie Tel: 01 878 0116 / 01 878 0115

Irish Wildlife Trust Press Release 28th Sept 2010

PRESS RELEASE

 

28th September, 2010 

 

Guide to Sustainable Seafood and Campaign to Reform the Common Fisheries Policy 

 

28,500 people call on EU Fisheries Commissioner to put environment first

 

On Monday September 13^th the Irish Wildlife Trust was among a delegation of European environmental groups that handed over 28,500 signatures to European Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, calling on her to prioritise the health of the marine environment in the reform of the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

 

"From all over Europe people are urging Commissioner Damanaki to conserve valuable marine habitats and ensure the economic vitality of vulnerable coastal communities," said Pádraic Fogarty, chairman of the Irish Wildlife Trust. "The Irish government must show strong leadership by putting the environment first in its negotiations for a reformed Common Fisheries Policy. This means following scientific advice and imposing strict criteria on those seeking access to fisheries resources. We must put the fish before the fishing to ensure that future generations can enjoy seafood as part of a health diet and that coastal communities will reverse their decline. "

 

The IWT, within the European coalition of environmental groups, OCEAN2012, is proposing that access to fishery resources be based on a set of transparent criteria for sustainable fishing, which must include:

·         More selective fishing methods, gears and practices that reduce unintentional catches of non-target species and lessen the impact on the marine environment;

·         Vessels and fishing methods that consume less energy per tonne of fish caught;

·         A good record of compliance with the rules of the CFP.

 

"The marine environment is a common good. It is in the public interest that activities which impact the state of marine fish stocks, and the larger ecosystem, are carefully managed," said Fogarty. "Under the reformed CFP, those who fish in the most sustainable way should be given priority access to fishing grounds."

 

To raise awareness of the link between what we eat and the health of our ocean the IWT has launched an on-line guide to seafood that presented the best available information on the state of the species and the techniques that are used to catch them. This can be found on www.iwt.ie .

 

ENDS

 

Contact:

For further information please contact Padraic Fogarty - IWT Chairman.

Ph: 01 860 2839 or E-mail: enquiries@iwt.ie

 

Notes to the Editor:

1. The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run

education and training programs like SAC Watch and the Badger club, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey

and Newt Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to

maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide

organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford and Cork.

2. Details of  OCEAN2012 and its proposal for a reformed CFP can be found at www.OCEAN2012.eu

3. OCEAN2012 is an alliance of 88 organisations dedicated to transforming European Fisheries Policy to stop overfishing, end destructive fishing

practices and deliver fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks.

OCEAN2012 was initiated, and is co-ordinated, by the Pew Environment Group, the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non

governmental organisation working to end overfishing in the world´s oceans.

The steering group of OCEAN2012 is the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), Ecologistas en Acción, the Fisheries Secretariat

(FISH), nef (new economics foundation), the Pew Environment Group and Seas At Risk (SAR).

 

The Financial Crisis, Peak Oil and You: Building Resilience From the Bottom Up

 

 

Press Release – for immediate release – 19^th July 2010

Transition Cork City – The Resilient Rebels

 

The Financial Crisis, Peak Oil and You:  Building Resilience From the Bottom Up

A unique chance to hear a global perspective on current Money and Energy challenges, and how Cork communities can gear up locally for power-down.

 

Date:  Sunday 1^st August 2010

Time:  7:30 pm

Location:  The Pegasus Room, Clarion Hotel, Lapp's Quay, Cork

Entrance:  €5 (free for unwaged)

 

The world renowned blogger Stoneleigh (aka Nicole Foss) of The Automatic Earth (http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/) is currently touring Europe and will be speaking in Cork on Sunday August 1^st, at 7:30 pm in the Clarion Hotel.  She is an energy industry consultant, a financial analyst and former editor of the Oil Drum Canada.

 

Stoneleigh, and her co-blogger Illargi, were some of very few analysts globally who foresaw such things as the collapse of Lehmann Brothers and the Icelandic banks, so her insights into what is really happening in the financial world are definitely worth hearing.  Her talks present very clearly the stark challenges which lie ahead, and she has made a huge impression wherever she has spoken.  For anyone who wants to find out what is coming down the line, this talk by Stoneleigh is a must.

 

Stoneleigh's Cork talk is the first of three such talks in Ireland, as part of her current European tour.  She is also speaking in Castlebar, Co. Mayo at the Linenhall Theatre on Monday 2^nd August, and at the Greenhouse in Dublin on Tuesday 3^rd August.

 

Stoneleigh is being hosted in Cork by Transition Cork City – The Resilient Rebels, the local initiative of the global Transition movement.  The Transition movement explores how communities can come together and respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of Peak Oil, Climate Change, and increasingly, economic stagnation.  Transition Cork City was formed earlier this year by a group of individuals interested in coming together to find a collective community response to the challenges facing the city, and to help build local resilience.

 

Ends

 

For further information contact:  Dominick Donnelly

Tel:  087-1210783  or  email:  dominickdonnelly@eircom.net

 

 

Further information on Stoneleigh:

She is now a fulltime blogger, with her partner, Illargi, on The Automatic Earth (http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/ )

She is a former editor of The Oil Drum Canada.

She ran the Agri-Energy Producers Association of Ontario, where she has focused on farm based biogas projects and grid connections for renewable energy.

In the UK she was Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, where she specialized in nuclear safety in Eastern European & former Soviet Union and conducted research into electricity policy at the EU level.

She has a BSc in biology from Carleton University in Canada, and a post grad diploma in air and water pollution control. She also has a LLM in international law in development from University of Warwick in the UK. University medal for top science graduate in 1988 and the law school prize for top law school graduate in1997.

 

 

Further information on Transition Cork City – The Resilient Rebels

Transition Cork City was started in February 2010, as the local Transition initiative of the growing international Transition movement.  Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107717519258640 or on the Transition Ireland website at http://transitiontownsireland.ning.com/group/corkcity

 

Death by a Thousand Cuts

Press Release

Death by a Thousand Cuts

Illegal hedgerow cutting is detrimental to Irish wildlife and the Irish Wildlife Trust are
appealing to land managers to stop. Hedge cutting continues well into the summer
months but unless for reasons of health and safety this practice is prohibited by the
Wildlife Act from the 1st of March to the 31st of August every year. At this time of
year birds and mammals are breeding and flowering is providing seeds for the next
generation. Despite this is seems that Local Authorities in Ireland only start cutting
hedges in the summer months, creating eye-sores and causing untold destruction to
wildlife.

Hedgerows are essential in providing habitats and corridors for maintaining wildlife
diversity, supporting species such as badgers, owls, hedgehogs, stoats, blackbirds
and innumerable plants, butterflies and other insects. Not only are they an invaluable
reserve for much of our wildlife they are important in providing pollinators, cleaning
our air, defining our landscape, storing carbon and by holding back the flow of water
off land they can alleviate flooding.

'In spite of all these benefits, the Irish hedgerow is suffering "death by a thousand
cuts". They are frequently mismanaged, flayed to within an inch of their existence, or
simply removed during the construction of one-off houses and replaced with invasive
alien cherry laurel "a plant of no value to wildlife.' Commented Padraic Fogarty - IWT
Chairperson.

Each year the IWT encourages the public to report instances of illegal hedgerow
cutting to the IWT, which are followed up with letters to the relevant county council
and the Minister for Environment. Just email the date, location, and if possible the
name of the land manager involved and a photo to enquiries@iwt.ie


ENDS
Contact:
For further information please contact Joanne Pender, IWT Development
Officer Ph: 01 860 2839 or E-mail: enquiries@iwt.ie

Editors Notes:
The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body.
We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and
training programs like SAC Watch and the Outdoor Classroom Programme,
carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey,
campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats,
consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural
heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection
of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong
membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Tipperary,
Clare, Limerick, Waterford and Cork.

National Spring Clean comes to Midleton

The Midleton leg of An Taisce’s hugely successful National Spring Clean took place on Sunday 18th April jointly organised by Cork Environmental Forum and the Midleton Transition Town group.

This national event, which attracts an enormous number of volunteers all over the country every year, sees community groups and organisations take to their streets, woodlands, glens and so on determined to restore local beauty spots from forgotten and rubbish infested eyesores.

In Midleton members of the local Transition group, who work towards tackling climate change pressures and fossil fuel dependence in the local area, spent their sunny Sunday morning down by the estuary next to the Bailick Rd Park. This area has taken on the appearance of a landfill site in recent years as piles of rubbish are brought in with the high tide. Two hours flew by in a whirl of work, chat and laughter as 10 enthusiastic volunteers managed to gather an amazing 9 large rubbish bags of aluminium cans, 9 bags of plastic bottles, 11 bags of non-recyclable rubbish, 1 42-inch flat screen TV, 1 mattress, 1 sink, a handy collection of road signs and 2 car bootfuls of glass! The group would like to express their thanks to Billy Buckley and Midleton Town Council who were happy to collect the substantial pile and send for recycling where possible.

So perhaps next time you are taking a stroll in the Bailick Rd. Park you might notice how clean and beautiful the estuary is looking upstream. You might also notice that there is plenty left to be done! Members of the team are determined to come back and finish the job on the weekend of 8/9 May (morning to be decided) and are inviting the Midleton public to get involved. If you would like to express an interest in taking part, you can send a quick email to patrick@cef.ie or leave a message with your name and mobile number (so we can send text messages) on 021 4651734.

More images in our online gallery.

Labour Party Environmental NGO Forum 24th April Kinsale

The Labour Party is holding a series of Environment NGO Forums this year, our first was in Dublin in the Mansion House at the end of February and you can view a report on the day here
http://www.labour.ie/blog/archive/2010/02/27/environment-and-sustainability/,

The purpose of these events is to inform Labour Party policy and to engage in dialogue with the NGO sector, and the focus is on practical discussion on the challenges facing legislators.  We really appreciate
your time and look forward to meeting you and other NGOs on on the 24th April in Kinsale.

Planning for a Sustainable Future

Labour Party NGO Forum, Saturday 24th April, 10am
Trident Hotel, Kinsale, Co Cork.

Hosted by
Cllr. Tomás O'Brien, Mayor of Kinsale
Senator Michael McCarthy
Joanna Tuffy TD

10am Tea/Coffee and Registration

Introduction and Labour Spokesperson presentations
10.15am     Introduction and welcome Bronwen Maher Co-Chair Labour Party Environment and Sustainability Policy Group.

'Planning for a Sustainable Future'.
Joanna Tuffy TD, Labour Party Spokesperson on Environment and Heritage.
Senator Michael McCarthy, Spokesperson on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; Agriculture, Community and Rural Affairs
Ciarán Lynch TD, Labour Party Spokesperson on Housing and Local Government

10.30 NGOs information and presentations from NGO on issues relating to National and Local Government policy on –

Cork Environmental Forum – introduction by Patrick Treacy
The Strategic Policy Committee system and the Environment Pillar – Phoebe Bright
Transition Town Movement 'Challenges facing the grassroots' – Klaus Harvey & Matt Mills
River Basin Management Plans – Mark Boyden Sustainable Water Network (SWAN)

11.30        Tea and Coffee break

11.50 to 12.10  –  Labour Party Leader Éamon Gilmore TD (to be confirmed)
             Guest Speaker - Declan Waugh, Partnership for Change

12.10 to 1pm
Q & A Session,
Chair Bronwen Maher
Panelests:- Joanna Tuffy TD,
Senator Michael McCarthy,
Cllr Tomás O'Brien,
Ciarán Lynch TD.

Q & A session, with contributions from the floor discussing the challenges facing Government and Legislators when planning for a sustainable future.

1pm Ends


R.S.V.P. Joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie 20 April

Earth Hour 2010: final update

MEDIA ALERT

 

Earth Hour Update: FINAL

 

As Lights Come Back On, Earth Hour's

Record Action Offers a Beacon of Hope

 

March 28, 2010: Sydney Australia: 19.30 AEST/ 08.30 GMT

 

As the lights of Apia, Samoa were turned on once again at 21.30pm local time (08.30 GMT), the citizens of the world reflected on the planet's largest collective leadership for climate action – Earth Hour 2010.

 

25 and three quarters hours after the first lights were turned off in Chatham Islands, the world has seen the lights go off on heritage sites, ancient and modern marvels, local cafes, schools, royal and presidential palaces, universities and backyard dinner parties.

 

A record 126 countries and territories, over 4,000 cities, towns and municipalities and hundreds of millions of people across the globe took part in delivering a powerful action of hope for a better, healthy planet.

 

Andy Ridley Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour said, "The response from citizens, businesses and government has been truly phenomenal. Crossing geographic, economic and cultural boundaries, it has brought together people from all over the planet to celebrate the one thing we all share – the place we live."

 

"WWF's Earth Hour, at a personal, local and global level has become a rallying point for those who want action on climate change and are prepared to be part of the solution," Ridley said.

 

WWF-International's Director-General Jim Leape who attended the lights out celebrations at the Forbidden City in China said, ""Tonight, hundreds of millions of people raised their voices by turning out their lights. It is a simple act, but a powerful call to action," Jim Leape said.

 

Around the world, Earth Hour was embraced by all walks of life, transcending race, culture, age and economics as individuals took leadership in their communities in the pursuit of a climate change solution.

 

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said, "The message of Earth Hour is simple. Climate change is a concern for each of us.  Solutions are within our grasp and are ready to be implemented by individuals, communities, businesses and governments around the globe."

 

Yolanda Kakabadse, WWF International President and Former Ecuadorian Environment Minister said, "Never doubt that decision makers will be watching what masses of people do in their homes and communities for Earth Hour.  Dealing with climate change is not easy and leaders are themselves looking for leadership on the issue."

 

South African Nobel Peace Prize Winner, The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, "Earth Hour is an opportunity for every man, woman and child from all corners of the globe to unite and show the world that by working together we can win the battle against global warming."

 

Mrs. Kim Barrow, First Lady of Belize said, "The time to act is now. Tomorrow is way too late. Take responsibility and make your mark. Any other option is unacceptable."

 

Once again, Earth Hour was owned by the people of the planet. In Sydney, a participant at a candle lit dinner said, "(Earth Hour) is a great moment to think about our impact on the environment and our place in making a positive change for our planet.  It is a great way of uniting people to act on climate change."

 

In Cusco, Peru, Earth Hour supporters walked the streets reminding residents to turn out their lights.

 

More than ever before, social media was a powerful force in spreading the message of Earth Hour.  Celebrity tweets included:

 

• Twitter's most popular tweeter, Ashton Kutcher – "Earth Hour is at 8.30.  Let's shut the lights off."
• Demi Moore – "Are your lights off for Earth Hour?"
• Coldplay – "Get out your flashlights for Earth Hour."

 

While Kylie Minogue tweeted a picture of the candle she lit.

 

Impressions online included:

 

• 74.6 million of Earth Hour mentions on Google within 24 hours
• Number 1 worldwide trending topic on Twitter for most of the 24 hours, which never fell below position 7 (at it's peak 2.2 % of all tweets were Earth Hour related)
• Over 1,000 official Earth Hour photos were submitted from around the world

 

As the world once again freely uses its lights, Earth Hour organisers believe that actions of individuals throughout Earth Hour has demonstrated the desire that remains embedded in the hearts and minds of the people of the planet to make a difference in their everyday lives and to make every hour, earth hour.

 

--ends--

 

 

 

Switch off your lights for Earth Hour 2011

Saturday 26 March, 8.30pm-9.30pm

www.earthhour.org 

 

 

Online Road Safety Video Teaches Cyclists & Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers How To Share The Road Safely

nline Road Safety Video Teaches Cyclists & Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers How To Share The Road Safely

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), in association with the Department of Transport's Smarter Travel initiative, the Irish Road Haulage Association, Cyclist.ie and Dublin City Council, today launched their first ever road safety online video. The aim of the video is to help cyclists and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers become more aware of each other as they navigate Ireland's busy roads. 

The six 1/2 minute video was produced to provide an educational resource to Goods vehicle drivers and cyclists on how to safely share the road, particularly in urban areas. Research has shown that over the period, 1998 to 2008:

·         144 cyclists were killed on Irish roads.

·         Of these, 33% were involved in a collision with a goods vehicle.

·         30% of the collisions occurred during evening rush hour.

·         The highest number of fatalities occurred in Dublin accounting for 30% of those killed.

Speaking today, Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport, wholeheartedly welcomed the video, saying it is a  "really useful learning aid for cyclists and HGV drivers alike. We all share our roads, but we can sometimes forget that different types of road users have different characteristics and needs. Cyclists will welcome not only the opportunity to see the challenges that can face HGV drivers in negotiating the urban environment due to the size of their vehicles but also the commonsense safety advice that this video contains. HGV drivers will welcome this reminder of the need to be ultra cautious where there are likely to be cyclists about. And all drivers need to be ever more aware of cyclists as the Government delivers on our policy of securing a fivefold increase in cycling by 2010"

The Minister continued, "This is a very worthwhile initiative led by the Road Safety Authority. But I am particularly heartened by the collaboration that has taken place between the RSA, Cyclist.ie, the Irish Road haulage association, Dublin City Council and my Department in delivering the video. This sort of teamwork convinces me more than ever that Ireland can, and will, work together to deliver not only our cycling targets but a sustainable Smarter Travel future"

The video follows a HGV driver as he travels through Dublin's busy streets, typical of those found in other major cities and large towns in Ireland. It highlights the concerns goods vehicle drivers and in particular HGV drivers have in urban areas in relation to cyclists,  illustrates the vulnerability cyclists may feel when sharing the road with goods vehicles and offers commonsense advice to HGV drivers. It also advises cyclists to be aware of the "blind zone" which prevents HGV drivers of seeing cyclists positioned to the left or close to the front of a HGV.

Noel Brett, Chief Executive, RSA, said, "We are delighted to launch this viral video as it will aid cyclists and goods vehicle drivers to understand the difficulties they face when interacting with each other on the roads. Through this viral video, we hope to encourage them to work together to make our roads a safer place not only for themselves, but for all road users". 

The film is available to download from YouTube and the following websites, Road Safety Authority, Department of Transport, Dublin City Council, Local Authorities, Irish Road Haulage Association, cycling.ie and all cycling club websites throughout the country. The clip is available to all third level colleges and those who wish may use it on their website.

Please follow the link to download the film clip HGV and Cycling  Safety Video. You can download Pedal Cyclists Road casualites 1998 to 2008, from the RSA website or by Clicking on the link.

 

Ends

For further information, please contact:
The Communications Office, Road Safety Authority – 096 25008

Or

Brian Farrell, Communications manager -086 3881009

 

Notes to Editor:

A Goods vehicle is a road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods. It is a vehicle with passengers accommodation for not more than 8 persons and having a design gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 3,500 kg.

 

 

 

 

Communications Department

Road Safety Authority

Moy Valley Business Park

Primrose Hill

Dublin Road

Ballina

Co. Mayo

(096) 25008

Death by a Thousand Cuts

Press Release

8th March, 2010 Irish Wildlife Trust

Death by a Thousand Cuts

- Report illegal hedge cutting to IWT and help protect our wildlife.

Illegal hedgerow cutting is detrimental to Irish wildlife and the Irish Wildlife Trust are appealing to land managers to stop. Hedge cutting typically starts around now and continues well into the summer months but unless for reasons of health and safety this practice is prohibited by the Wildlife Act from the 1st of March to the 31st of August every year.  At this time of year birds and mammals are breeding and flowering is providing seeds for the next generation. Despite this is seems that Local Authorities in Ireland only start cutting hedges in the summer months, creating eye-sores and causing untold destruction to wildlife. 

Hedgerows are essential in providing habitats and corridors for maintaining wildlife diversity, supporting species such as badgers, owls, hedgehogs, stoats, blackbirds and innumerable plants, butterflies and other insects. Not only are they an invaluable reserve for much of our wildlife they are important in providing pollinators, cleaning our air, defining our landscape, storing carbon and by holding back the flow of water off land they can alleviate flooding.

'In spite of all these benefits, the Irish hedgerow is suffering 'death by a thousand cuts'. They are frequently mismanaged, flayed to within an inch of their existence, or simply removed during the construction of one-off houses and replaced with invasive alien cherry laurel – a plant of no value to wildlife.' Commented Padraic Fogarty - IWT Chairperson.

 

Each year the IWT encourages the public to report instances of illegal hedgerow cutting to the IWT, which are followed up with letters to the relevant county council and the Minister for Environment. Just email the date, location, and if possible the name of the land manager involved and a photo to enquiries@iwt.ie 

ENDS

Contact:

For further information please contact Joanne Pender, IWT Development Officer 

Ph: 01 860 2839 or E-mail: enquiries@iwt.ie

 

Editors Notes:

The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch and the Outdoor Classroom Programme, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Tipperary, Clare, Limerick, Waterford and Cork.

TWENTY TEN - PLANT AGAIN: National Tree Week 7-13 March 2010

Duncan Stewart launches National Tree Week and asks us in Twenty Ten to plant again

 

On Monday 1 March at Farmleigh at 11.00, Duncan Stewart launched 'National Tree Week'. Organised by the Tree Council of Ireland and supported by Coillte. In recognition of the 26^th anniversary of National Tree Week from 7^th – 13^th March 2010, the theme this year is 'Twenty Ten – Plant Again', celebrating the importance of trees in our world?  Over 500,000 trees have been planted as part of National Tree Week during the last 25 years and once again, this year, Coillte has supplied an additional 15,000 trees for planting, which will be distributed to schools and community groups by every local authority nationwide.

 

Throughout the week there are events taking place in each county, including:

 

• Launch of Poster Exhibition by Éanna Ní Lamhna, RTE, at Charleville Mall Public library, North Strand on  Wed 3 March a 12pm
• Tree Walk with John Mc Loughlin, Tree Council of Ireland, Phoenix Park Visitor Centre,  Sunday 7 March 10, at 3.00
• Tree planting by Christy Cooney, GAA President at Clan na Gael, Ringsend on Tuesday 9 March at 11.00am

·        Augustine Henry Lecture in the RDS – "Multifunctional Plantation Forestry in Atlantic Europe" by Professor (Emeritus) Ted Farrell – UCD,  The Merrion Room, RDS, Thurs 11 March 10 at 7.30 pm

•  Launch of Tree Trail at All Hallows College by Bertie Ahern, TD at All Hallows College on  Monday 8 March at  2.30 pm
• Tree Planting Ceremony to celebrate Mother's Day with Éanna Ní Lamhna
• & the launch of IKEA's Family Woodland Scheme at  Turvey Park, Donabate on   at 13 March  at 11am
• For details of  events in your area visit  www.treecouncil.ie

 

Helena Mc Gorman, President, Tree Council of Ireland, said: ". We selected the theme 'Twenty Ten – Plant again' to urge people to look at how important trees are in our world. Furthermore, today the importance of trees in protecting our environment, and repairing some of the damage that has been done to the earth is even more relevant. The aim of National Tree Week is to highlight the role trees play in cleaning the air, preventing the build-up of greenhouse gases, providing renewable energy and providing a source for building and furniture."

 

Gerard Murphy, Managing Director, Coillte Forest said "The Coillte Press Release piece is:  'One of Coillte's core values is to contribute positively to the environment and to communities and Tree Week encapsulates this value wholeheartedly.  Coillte is delighted to sponsor Tree Week which will see up to 20,000 trees planted in communities by communities, trees that will provide benefits for many generations'.

 

 

 

-ends-

 

For Further Information Please Contact:

 

John Mc Loughlin – Tree Council of Ireland

                                                                                                                                          

086 250 6022

 

Why plant more trees?

 

 

• With 10% forest cover  Ireland remains one of the least forested country in Europe which has an average of 44% cover
• Many of our specimen trees were planted in the 18^th and 19^th Century and are in urgent need of replacement
• The strategic development plan for forestry has a target of 17% forest cover by 2030
• The forest industry is worth €1.65 billion annually
• It is estimated that more than 10,000 people are employed in the industry mainly in rural Ireland
• More than 17,000 farmers own and manage farm woodlands
• The non timber benefits of forestry include bio-diversity, carbon sequestration, wood biomass energy and recreation
• Ireland's forests provide an opportunity to conserve bio-diversity at local and national level
• Ireland's forest provide a potential to for wood to displace fossil fuels
• Over 200,000 people use forest trails for exercise. 'Walking Tourism' brings in approx 500,000 visitors with a spend of €138k
• Wood is uniquely renewable among building material

 

 

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