Killeen welcome forestry's new lobby
A NEW representative body for the forestry industry was launched last week.
The Irish Forest and Forest Products Association (IFFPA) will represent growers and timber processors.
The organisation aims to align all forestry interest groups with a view to maximising the economic, social and environmental benefits of the industry.
Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen, welcoming the formation of the new body -- which has been formed under the auspices of IBEC -- said the organisation would provide a platform for consultation and development within the sector.
Pat Delaney, of IBEC, claimed that the forestry and forest-products sector was the most diverse, under-utilised and potentially innovative sector of the Irish economy.
He pointed out that the forestry and timber industries employ almost 11,000 people and the annual export value of wood-based products was approximately €333m.
"The value of the forestry and forest products sector to the Irish economy is currently €1.65bn," he said. "There is significant further potential in the innovation space for wood fuel to displace fossil fuel."
He said forestry plantations were also vital to the tourist industry as more than 200,000 Irish people participated in walking tourism through forest trails, while more than 500,000 visitors to Ireland in 2007 came on walking holidays.
Marian Byron, IFFPA director, said a focused lobby group was vital given the difficulties of the global economic downturn.
- Declan O'Brien
