Sir, - Martin Lowery, Coillte's chief executive, attempts (The Irish Times, September 19th) to demean Fintan O'Toole's excellent illumination (Opinion, September 12th) of the nether world of the State/private coterie by urging that criticisms of Coillte "be based on accurate information". Many of the chief executive's own criticisms are sadly lacking in this respect:
Mr Lowery claims that "sitka spruce is ideally suited for Ireland's mountains and marginal land". Wrong. Such land is totally unsuited and only becomes plantable when the timeless bog cover is gouged away and the underlying water-logged earth drained. The poor quality soil must next be enriched with large amounts of phosphate, then later fertilised in the most environmentally destructive and wasteful method, by helicopter. Wind displaces some fertiliser, more falls on unplanted land, much is washed away by rainfall.
This extra phosphate is responsible for much local and general eutrophication of adjacent waterways, e.g. loughs Corrib and Leane. Unlike the helpful British Forestry Authorities, which freely dispense information, Coillte remains aggressively secretive about the volumes of fertiliser used. Although 7 per cent of Ireland's publicly owned mountains and valleys are now afforested, Coillte will not divulge precise locations and ownerships of these plantations.
Mr Lowery also claims that Coillte has a "global role" in reducing the world's greenhouse gases! In spite of Coillte being under the aegis of the Department of the Marine, which has ultimate responsibility for the protection and conservation of salmon, many sitka plantations have been sited in areas supporting nursery streams so essential for the breeding of salmon and trout. Mr Lowery neglected to mention that the resultant rise in both acidity and aluminium concentration in hundreds of these waterways has wiped out all fish stocks. Perhaps Coillte should address local environmental responsibilities before undertaking lofty global commitments.
Another memory-slip by Mr Lowery: the EU does not share his rose-tinted view that "Coillte's forests are managed in accordance with environmental criteria". In September 1999 Ireland was found guilty in the EU Court of persistent transgressions in forestry management. Ireland now holds the uneneviable record of being Europe's greatest environmental offender. Away from the glare of publicity and to the obvious advantage to its shareholders and area managers, Coillte, despotic judge and jury in all matters environmental, has quietly beavered on with exploitative policies that often verge on environmental rapaciousness.
Thanks to the pen of Fintan O'Toole, the Irish public is being brought up to date. - Yours, etc.,
Roderick D. O'Sullivan, Maida Vale, London W9.