I Had Some Connection with the Growing of Trees in Ireland

Submission on Forestry Review Brian Hussey 26/3/10

I had some connection with the growing of trees in Ireland….still have to a small extent. I got to know a little of how forestry sectors operated in some European countries. Those countries which had successful forests and forest industries had National Forests Policies. I believe that in Ireland we should try having a Policy. It would largely replace the intermittent impromptu initiatives that have been taken by the Forest Service from time to time over the decades, and would have wider implications.

There should be a Policy committee probably having no more than five to seven people. Those drafting the Policy,and later continuously monitoring it, should be required to first report in twelve to fifteen months [sooner?]. They should be commercial and the Forest Service membership of the committeeshould be minimal. Forest Service is systemically unsuited to drafting commercial policy. This is not to deny the capacity and value of Forest Service personnel. Include a mechanism for periodically rigorously examining Forest Service expenditure in the light of defined aims. Eliminate‘quiet life’ expenditure on placating, or appearing to placate, interest groups. Do not employ consultants. A National Forest Policy should have a political champion or two. Copper fasten [?] prompt political action.

It may be necessary, in the short term, to have an ad hoc plan for the Funding of Forestry Schemes. A serious examination of funding would, obviously, have to await the National Forest Policy.

Coillte seems to have a few of the virtues and some of the vices of state owned companies. Examine it largely by a careful reading of its annual reports since it foundation, leading to a concise commercial history. Appoint a commercially acute triumvirate to do this. Don’t waste time. Take steps to avoid Coillte being bled of cash, and the burdening of the sector with artificial capital transactions, devised to ease problems in the national budget. Ask the obvious question ‘Given the asset values shown on its balance sheet how has Coillte been doing? Who has been watching? What do they say? Armed with the answers, divide Coillte into units which, employ assets profitably, encourage competition, and optimise Coillte’s contribution to the realisation of policy aims. In general, treat P R as an unaffordable luxury.

In all three instances learn from mistakes made in agriculture. No more carts drawing up at creameries with churns containing six or seven gallons of milk.

Milk is a commodity; so is timber. The recently favoured seven to ten ha, or less, mixed species ‘mom and pop’ private plantations are the successors to the seven to ten cow milking herd. A commercial National Forest Policy would have preventedthe use of resources to support the establishment of ‘enterprises’ incapable of economic production of a commodity.

There is an alternative. Small woodlands could provide, logs for energy, willow for basket weaving; small wood eco systems; organic/Silva forestry; mushrooms and habitats. There is a case for all this. Many of those who espouse it live on incomes which are much greater than could be provided by woods of this kind. Incorporate biodiversity in commercial production forests; know where one ends and the other begins. Know the costs and know the benefits.