Sir, – During leaders’ questions in the Dáil on February 6th, Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Independent Ireland, Roscommon–Galway) and Tánaiste Simon Harris appeared to agree that the Government should introduce regulations to remove trees within 30 metres of roads, power lines, or communication lines in response to Storm Éowyn. Although completely unattainable, this is a deeply concerning proposal that would change Ireland’s landscape beyond recognition. We are in the midst of a catastrophic biodiversity crisis. Our native forest cover is barely 1 per cent. The issue is not nature or trees. It is us. Our behaviour, our emissions, poor infrastructure, and flawed political decisions have led us here. Rather than waging an indiscriminate war on nature in response to extreme weather events, we need better infrastructure, more sustainable housing developments, and healthier native trees and forests.
I hope this was an unconsidered remark rather than a serious policy intention. We need to make peace with nature, not destroy it. – Yours, etc,
Dr OLA LØKKEN NORDRUM,
Dublin 4.
