Public Consultation Notice Coillte Consultation Opportunity ~ Consultation on Forest Five Year Plans Review 2021-2025
PLEASE NOTE:
The process of finalizing our Draft 2021-2025 Forest Plans has now resumed having been paused due to the current health crisis.
With your help, Coillte has produced draft forest plans for the period 2021 – 2025 are now available to view here.
Coillte’s current BAU Strategic plans (forest five year plans) are due for review at the end of 2020.
With your help, Coillte will produce draft forest plans for the period 2021 – 2025 in the coming months. During this time we invite stakeholders to engage with us and submit their recommendations into this consultation process.
There will be 4 stages in this public consultation process as outlined below :-
Phase 1: Six week public consultation when current forest plans are reviewed and initial submissions and feedback are received from stakeholders and public
Timeline Phase 1: March – May 2020 – COMPLETE
Phase 2: Coillte review and acknowledge all submissions received during Phase 1. Stakeholders will be advised of any potential changes to our plans as a result of submissions and recommendations received.
Timeline Phase 2: May 2020 – COMPLETE
Phase 3: A second six week public consultation will be held when feedback and further submissions are received. Key themes identified will be published in a summary document on our website when final version of our forest plans are complete.
Timeline Phase 3: June – July 2021 – IN PROGRESS
Phase 4: Coillte review all stakeholder submissions to draft plans and, where possible, incorporate into final plans. Final plans will be produced and published on our website. Key themes identified will also be published in a summary document on our website.
Timeline Phase 4: August-September 2021
Please note that the timeline proposed above may be subject to change
We are inviting you to review our current plans and submit your views and recommendations during Phase 3. This public consultation period runs from Monday 14th June 2021 until Friday 23rd July 2021 (6 weeks). Submissions may be sent by email to consultation@coillte.ie.
Please note we cannot accept submissions by post as our offices are currently closed due to the current health crisis.
Coillte Consultation Opportunity – Forest operational plans (2017-2021) for "Doughill" property, Roscommon
Consultation Period: Monday 16th January 2017 - Friday 24th February 2017 (6 weeks)
Coillte consulted on its forest operational plans for Doughill property which surrounds the Sliabh Bawn Windfarm in Co. Roscommon. The forest operations include clearfelling, thinning and replanting that are planned over a 5 year period from 2017 to 2021.
View the forest operational map which shows the felling proposals over the next 5 years: Overview map of Doughill
Stakeholders can also view the “Doughill Environmental Impact Report” in relation to these plans.
All stakeholders submitted their comments/queries If they wished to meet the local team to go through the maps in more detail, they requested this in the submission they send to us on the forest operational proposals as follows:
- by email to consultation@coillte.ie, or
- by post to the local team – Consultation on forest operational plans for “Doughill” property, Coillte, Cedar House, Moneen, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
In addition Coillte hosted a public consultation meeting which took place in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon on Wednesday, 18th January 2017 from 3pm to 7pm. Media adverts were placed in the local papers to notify stakeholders about this meeting.
Following receipt of consultation submissions, each were considered and responded to. If required the Coillte team would engage in further discussions with stakeholders in relation to their submissions. Coillte will then make changes as appropriate to its plans based on stakeholder feedback, and inform stakeholders.
Consultation on changes to proposals for felling 2016-2020
Consultation Period: Monday 17th October 2016 – Friday 25th November 2016 (6 weeks)
This consultation opportunity was held during October/November 2016. A listing below outlines Coillte forest properties where there were proposed changes to percentage areas planned for felling. These proposals were different from what was published last year during our 2015 Business Area Strategic Plan consultation process.
View Coillte forest properties felling changes (PDF)
Stakeholders were able to view more detail, and send their comments/queries on those felling proposals to Coillte’s team, using Coillte’s Web Map (see below)
About Coillte’s Web Map
Coillte’s interactive web map viewer displayed areas where proposed felling activity is scheduled to take place during 2016 – 2020, as outlined in our plans.
In the Map Viewer, stakeholders could send a snapshot of their area of interest, submit comments and suggestions on harvest blocks via an e-mail to Coillte’s team. The Coillte team if required engaged in further discussion and gave more details about the felling activity for that particular area in the snapshot. Coillte then incorporate feedback, make changes if appropriate to Coillte’s plans and inform stakeholders.
Stakeholders were given direction how to use the Web Map, see user guide.
Coillte map user guide (PDF)
Consultation on BAU Strategic Plans Review 2016-2020
Consultation Period: July - November 2015 (two 6 week periods as outlined below)
Start Date:1st stage held Monday 20th July - Friday 28th August (6 weeks)
End Date:2nd stage held Monday 28th September 2015 until Friday 6th November 2015 (6 weeks)
Coillte produced draft BAU strategic plans for the period 2016-2020 with the help of the public, following a review of our plans during a public consultation process held during 2015.
Coillte's consultation process aimed to focus on and consider the impacts of our plans on affected stakeholders. Views, input, feedback and submissions from the public were welcomed. The BAU strategic plans set out a vision for the forests in each business area unit, and also, how Coillte policies and objectives will be implemented during the period of the plan.
Stakeholders should be aware that during our public consultation processes, submissions may be available to others if Coillte are subject to disclosure under Access to Information on the Environment requests. Therefore submissions are not confidential.
The stages of this review were:
Stage 1: Public Consultation phase for scoping of BAU Strategic Plans
During stage 1 we asked stakeholders for initial inputs into what they felt should be incorporated into this BAU strategic plan review process. Submissions, comments, feedback from the public were sought.
The public consultation period for this phase ran from Monday 20th July 2015 until Friday 28th August 2015 (6 weeks).
Stage 2: Receipt of submissions, consideration and incorporation of input where possible
There was an enthusiastic response to our request for initial inputs during Stage 1. With this help Coillte produced new draft BAU plans. Submissions were considered and received a response. Stakeholders will be advised of any potential changes to our plans as a result of those submissions. Key themes identified can be viewed in our summary document on this page http://www.coillte.ie/coillteforest/plans/coillte_strategic_planning_and_long_term_vision/
Stage 3: Public Consultation phase for draft BAU Strategic Plans
During stage 3 we asked for submissions and comments in relation to the draft plans developed.
This public consultation period ran from Monday 28th September 2015 until Friday 6th November 2015 (6 weeks).
Stakeholders were asked to send their submissions by email to: consultation@coillte.ie or by post to BAU strategic plan consultation process, Coillte, Dublin Road, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow.
View stage 3 consultation process held during 2015
Stage 4: Receipt of submissions, consideration and incorporation of input where possible into final version of plans
Coillte intend to finalise these plans by the end of March 2016, when its hoped we will have a decision from FSC about a derogation for use of Cypermethrin in our forests.
Draft BAU strategic Plans 2016-2020
Coillte Draft Strategic Plan B1 Northwest 2016-2020
Coillte Draft Strategic Plan B2 West 2016-2020
Coillte Draft Strategic Plan B3 Midlands 2016-2020
Coillte Draft Strategic Plan B4 Mid West 2016-2020
Coillte Draft Strategic Plan B5 South East 2016-2020
Coillte Draft Strategic Plan B6 South Central 2016-2020
Consultation by Coillte on behalf of FSC®¹ Forest Management Certificate Holders in Ireland
Consultation Period: 45 days.
Start Date: - Wed 20th May 2015
End date for Consultation – 4th July 2015
What is the consultation about?
Coillte (the Irish Forestry Board) is facilitating a consultation on behalf of FSC forest management certificate holders in Ireland.
This consultation concerns proposals for renewing a derogation from the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) so as to permit the use of a pesticide (cypermethrin) which is legal to use in Ireland and registered for use in forestry by the Pesticide Registration and Control Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but is classed as ‘highly hazardous’ by FSC and so can only be used in FSC-certified woodlands if there are no practicable alternatives.
Certificate holders consider the continued use of cypermethrin to be necessary for the control of large pine weevil which has a major impact on the re-establishment of forests in Ireland and are submitting a derogation application to FSC as set out below:
| Active Ingredient | Product Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Cypermethrin | Forester | Weevil control agent |
Current status: derogated for use in Ireland by FSC until October 2015
How can I find out more?
Coillte’s application for derogation, including a demonstrated need for the product, specific controls to prevent and minimise use, non-pesticide management options and other control options may be found at the following link: Application for Cypermethrin Derogation
Invitation to comment
It is important to receive feedback from a full range of economic, environmental and social stakeholders and you are strongly encouraged to respond to this consultation process.
Your input will ensure that full account is taken of all the important issues.
The consultation period starts on Wednesday 20th May 2015
Please pass on this notice to anyone you think may have an interest in this matter.
Please send your consultation response to consultation@coillte.ie on or before 4th July 2015.
¹ FSC licence code FSC- C005714
Consultation on Coillte’s BAU, District and Forest Plans 2009-2013
Coillte's role in managing forests in Ireland - and your role in helping us
As the key holder to the nation’s forests and as a commercial forestry and forest products company, Coillte has to make the final decision as to the detailed operation of each of our forest sites. We manage the forest estate according to Responsible Forest Management (RFM) principles, as we seek to balance the Social, Economic and Environmental aspects of our business. In doing so, we wish to ensure local participation in the business area unit (BAU) and forest planning process. It enhances our understanding of how our decisions impact on all forest users and on our neighbours and also helps create a positive working environment for our staff and contractors.
2013 – Public Consultation Process on reconfigured BAU strategic plans
Coillte’s operating structure of 13 Districts changed in late 2012, to 8 business area units(BAU). Resulting from this change, Coillte completed the reconfiguration of its District Strategic Plans (DSPs) 2011-2015 to reflect these 8 new business area units. There were no changes to the forest management plan boundaries within these areas at the time. Coillte held a public consultation process for 5 weeks to allow input and feedback from our stakeholders and the public on these newly reconfigured plans. This consultation process took place during late February, March 2013. Coillte’s consultation process includes the following:
- placing adverts in national and regional newspapers;
- posting information about the updates of these documents and consultation opportunities for stakeholders on our website;
- issuing mailshots to stakeholders registered with Coillte
- arranging one to one meetings with stakeholders on request with our local representatives to facilitate feedback
- comments / views raised during this consultation process are considered and where possible fed into the planning process at review time.
Stakeholders were made aware that consultation submissions made to us would be available to others and therefore are not confidential. All submissions were acknowledged and considered. In some cases Coillte endeavored to incorporate input into its plans where possible, however in some cases it was not possible to change its plans to reflect all submissions received. In these cases, Coillte attempt to explain the reasons to stakeholders.
2009/2010 – Public Consultation Process on Forest Management Plans and District Strategic Plans
During 2009 and 2010 Coillte carried out a review of its forest management plans (FMPs) and while still operating under a District structure, Coillte also carried out a review of its district strategic plans (DSPs) during that time.
Both of these management plan reviews were finalised after extensive public consultation opportunities with stakeholders and members of the public. All had the opportunity to submit comments/views in relation to Coillte plans. Coillte’s consultation process includes the following:
- placing adverts in national and regional newspapers;
- posting information about the updates of these documents and consultation opportunities for stakeholders on our website;
- issuing mailshots to stakeholders registered with Coillte
- arranging one to one meetings with stakeholders on request with our local representatives to facilitate feedback
- comments / views raised during this consultation process are considered and where possible fed into the planning process at review time.
During past public consultation opportunities, stakeholders highlighted key consultation topics and to view Coillte's response to some of these topics, view a summary of stakeholder consultation comments and our response