Coillte Nature Announces Dublin Mountains Forests Conversion Plan and Seeks Your Views
Coillte Nature Announces Dublin Mountains Forests Conversion Plan and Seeks Your Views
Coillte Nature, a new not for profit entity within Coillte has a mandate to target the delivery of new woodlands facilitating species diversity, biodiversity and carbon sequestration as part of the Government’s National Forestry Programme. An inaugural project of Coillte Nature is the Dublin Mountains Conversion plan, to gradually, over the next 30 to 40 years convert the commercial forests of the Dublin Mountains to native and mixed woodlands with the primary function of recreation.
For over ten years Coillte has worked with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council and representatives of outdoor recreation groups such as the Dublin Mountains Initiative to promote recreation in the Dublin uplands through the Dublin Mountains Partnership. During this time Coillte has seen visitor numbers climb to over 600,000 per year, making these forests some of the most visited outdoor attractions in the region.
Due to their proximity to the city, nine Coillte forests account for the vast majority of visits to the Dublin Uplands (Ticknock, Barnaslignan, Carrigolligan, Kilmashogue, Ballyedmonduff, Massey’s Wood, Hell Fire, Cruagh and Tibradden). These forests are currently managed on Coillte’s forest planning systems as commercial forests, however given their exceptionally high usage and Coillte’s positive experience with the Dublin Mountains Partnership, Coillte has taken the decision to convert them to forests with the primary purpose of recreation and biodiversity within Coillte Nature.
Conversion from commercial forests to recreational forests will involve a mixture of conventional tree felling and replanting with native tree species, continuous cover forestry (CCF) and long term retention of other tree species. The project is being jointly funded by Coillte and the three Dublin local authorities with grants for native woodland conversion being provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Coillte is seeking your views on this project and you can find more details and give your feedback at the following link; Dublin Mountains Forest Conversion Consultation
About Coillte
Coillte is a commercial forestry company, owned by the State, that manages approximately 7% of the country’s land. Coillte operate three strong businesses from this land – their core forestry business, a wood panels manufacturing business MEDITE SMARTPLY and a land solutions business. Coillte export to over 30 countries worldwide and in the financial year 31 December 2018 generated EBITDA of €115 million. Coillte’s vision is to be the best forestry and land solutions company in Europe. To find out more visit www.coillte.ie
