This article is from page 15 of the 2007-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
yester- day that the statement put forward by east Clare organisation Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) was both “inaccurate and misrepresents Coillte’s position’. “The reality is that Coillte are cur- rently conducting a comprehensive
and detailed review of the sustaina- bility of its forestry activities on sen- sitive western peatlands in a project called the Western Peatland Project,” he said.
“The results from this review clearly show that the vast majority of coniferous plantations owned and managed by Coillte along the west coast of Ireland are in fact commer- cially, socially and environmentally sustainable.”
“These plantations will continue to provide much needed sources of income and work to local rural com- munities now and in the future.
“The review also indicates that a significant area of coniferous planta- tions along the west coast of Ireland are on sensitive western peatlands and may be more suited to alterna- tive management practices which do not involve commercial timber pro- duction.
“Research in this area is ongoing and definitive decisions regarding Coullte policy will only be made in the light of increased scientific knowledge and in consultation and agreement with the Forest Service, other relevant statutory bodies and stakeholders.”