Madam, – Two recent letters (January 10th and 13th) have raised the possibility of the sale of State forests, referring presumably to the McCarthy report (An Bord Snip Nua). Now that a general election is imminent it becomes important to look at the record Fine Gael’s published policy plans to combine the State forests, as managed by Coillte, with Bord na Mona to form a bioenergy enterprise.
This proposal indicates a failure to understand the true nature and proper purpose of State forestry. The principal function of State-owned forests is to supply sawlogs as an industrial raw material efficiently and on a cost-neutral basis; that is, a public service, and therefore properly provided by the state. Any profits generated by the market are devoted to improving and extending the main asset. If it also produces fuel and other small roundwood products as intermediate by-products then well and good: it helps the overall efficiency. The economic benefits arise from the downstream industries. State forestry also provides valued landscape and conservation functions and available public recreational access. Its time horizon is perpetuity.
Bord na Mona is a multi-function enterprise which has outgrown its original purpose and is seeking alternative objectives. It is at present, among other things, an importer and distributor of coal and oil. All its activities seek a short-term profit.
This is not the first time that such a cynical proposal was put forward. It is no better on this occasion. Bord na Mona should stand on its own feet, privatised if appropriate. – Yours, etc,