The reafforestation of Ireland has been a national goal for a century and more. Everyone seems to favour it. But just where this development should take place, is often something to be argued about. Right enough, if a large wood is put up where you or the neighbours are not in favour, the problem will last for fifty or sixty or a hundred years - or more - according to the type of tree and when its felling time is due. And, of course, woods planted as amenity should be for ever, more or less.
Farmers are particularly vocal about all this. "Farmers Oppose Forestry" is a heading in the Farmers Journal dated October 5th. And the IFA president, John Donnelly, said that the Government's response to IFA demands in relation to forestry would be one of the key factors determining whether or not the organisation would be prepared to sign on for a new National Agreement. You might think that there were more pressing items on the agricultural front, but that's what Mr Donnelly said.
And speaker after speaker at this meeting, which was held in Boyle, called on the representatives of the Forest Service present, to change the direction of Government policy on forestry "before it leads to the ruination of large areas of rural Ireland."
Nothing like putting your case strongly. The main complaints are, firstly, according to the president, the over concentration of forestry in some areas, and the inability of farmers to compete in the land market, in order to improve the viability of their holdings. He wants the Government to introduce a system of advance notification of intent to plant, and to deny to Coillte, and other corporate bodies, availability for forestry premium payments.
The farmers were on ground that everyone could understand when they said that planting should not come too close to a dwelling house or block a farmer's view of the road (or even a non farmer's, you might think).
And if you buy a house for its long perspective on, say, an imposing mountain, among other qualities, you too are not going to be pleased. So God help the Forest Service. Two officials present agreed that with the fast expansion of their sector, regulations haven't always responded to changing circumstances as quickly as desirable. But they pointed out how much co operation there had been between them and the IFA.
Is it possible to increase afforestation without arousing resentment from some quarter?