Madam, - With reference to your Editorial of July 28th, it seems the contribution of forestry to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the expansion of the national carbon sink has been overlooked in the recent debate on climate change.
Forestry is also at the forefront of the development of sustainable, renewable building materials and home-grown green clean energy.
The Government is currently reviewing its forestry strategy, which sets out annual afforestation targets of 20,000 hectares a year until 2030. Although we haven't met those targets in recent years, surely this is a time when full Government support should be given to the planting programme.
The Rural Development Programme for the years 2007 to 2013 is also currently being developed. At a time when farmers are looking to diversify, forestry should be aggressively promoted in this new plan.
The wood energy sector is taking off and Government policy must encourage this. In addition to the contribution that wood energy can make to reducing climate change, it could also create a significant number of jobs in areas that are currently employment black spots.
As fossil fuels run out, let us welcome the role of wood. - Yours, etc,
JOHN J. JACKSON, IFA Farm Forestry Chairman, Irish Farm Centre, Dublin 12.