Over 20 per cent of Leitrim under forestry

Leitrim is the most heavily forested county, according to the latest Forestry Statistics Ireland report which found that the county has a total of 20.1% or 32,000 hectares of its land under forestry.

The most popular tree species in the State is Sitka spruce, which is grown commercially to produce timber products.

Around 44% of the forested area consists of Sitka spruce. Conifers make up 69% of national forest cover and broadleaves account for 30%.

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cathaoirleach Justin Warnock, who is also a farmer and chairperson of Save Leitrim. "It's something we have known for a while and have been highlighting. Our main concern is, at what point does it stop. When the new forestry programme opens up are they going to go to the counties where there are only four or five per cent planted or continue on in Leitrim and destroy the social fabric and environment of our county."

The Cathaoirleach said that Save Leitrim was established to address this issue. "There was a lot of planting going on in Leitrim and people weren't organised to challenge it so, in our time, we have taken two High Court cases, judicial reviews and we have been to Europe as a result of it. So we are highlighting the problem. If 20 per cent of your county is planted that means that 20 per cent of the people are gone; the rural schools are closing and that has decimated our county."

He said that the trees are not benefitting the climate. "If anyone takes the time to look at forestry plantations, they are more densely planted than sitka spruce. A lot of the forests were planted on peat and emitting rather than holding carbon."