CLARE’s Sinn Féin cllrs have called on Clare County Council to use its lands to promote native forests.
Shannon LEA representative cllr James Ryan made the motion at the local authority’s July sitting and was seconded by his party colleague cllr Tommy Guilfoyle.
Ryan’s motion proposed that “Clare County Council uses some of its own land to develop native forests composed of broadleaf, deciduous trees like oak, ash, birch, hazel, alder and Scots pine. These would encourage more diverse habitats for wildlife and ensure long-term survival”.
Speaking on the motion, cllr Ryan noted that “Our forestry stations in Ireland basically include a big load of Christmas trees which isn’t really a forestry station at all, it’s just commercial logging. When the government says that they have five or six percent forestry coverage, most of that is just Christmas trees which are going to be cut down once they reach the age”.
On the planting of native trees in Clare, the art teacher stated “I think a lot more effort needs to be put into actually trying as much as possible in as many different places as possible, even if some of those areas aren’t that big. Your native trees won’t survive unless of course they’re protected. I just hope as much effort as possible is made to encourage the growth of native trees”.
Seconding the motion, newly elected Mayor of Ennis, cllr Tommy Guilfoyle highlighted “I think the motion has a great vision to it. If we have any land that we are putting our green fingers on, can we please use native trees on that”, the Clarecastle man added.
Carmel Kirby, Director of Service for Transportation, Climate Action, Environmental and Emergency Services with the council, issued an official reply to the motion, outlining that “Clare County Council has a number of forestry and woodland areas under its control presently such as Lees Road, Ballybeg and Whitegate. In its Climate Action Plan and Biodiversity Plan, Clare County Council has established actions to identify biodiversity opportunities for tree planting and woodland creation within Clare County Council landbanks”.
“Over the lifetime of these plans, it is the objective of the council to determine potential forestry and woodland locations on lands that are unsuitable for any other economic activity”, she continued.
Speaking at the meeting, Kirby stated that a climate officer would be working on greater planting of native trees in Clare.
