Britain's Heart of Oaks to be sold

[Magda Hassan]

http://woodlandleague.org/
The Irish Government is moving closer to a huge sell-off of the public forests managed by Coillte (The Irish Forestry Board) to private investors. An area greater than 1 million acres, equivalent to two medium sized counties will be lost forever. This will include some of our most valuable native woodlands, wild places and some of the last refuges of our native flora and fauna.

Interest has been expressed by Swiss finance company Helvetia Wealth - who own the International Forestry Fund (IFF) - chaired by Bertie Ahern, (ex-prime minister of Ireland) as well as The China Investment Corporation.

Please sign this petition now to tell the Irish Government that Ireland's Forests are not for sale. These forests are the inheritance of the Irish children and managed wisely can help secure Ireland's social, environmental and economic future. A strong show of support, asserting our rightful ownership of the public forests will make all the difference.
Petition Letter

To: Mary McAleese, The President of Ireland, and the Irish Government.

We the undersigned,

Wish it be known that the public forests belong to the people of Ireland and under no circumstances should they be sold to private interests as a short-sighted economic reaction.

The economy of Ireland under the Gaelic Order was that of the forests. This great resource was the provider of raw materials, medicine, weapons, tools, charcoal and food (in the form of berries, nuts, fungi, fruit, wild animals, etc.) as well as the basis for spirituality and wisdom. No other country has as many placenames connected to the forest with as many as 40,000 still in existence. Our forests are of great cultural and economic importance, therefore in these uncertain times we must retain full control over this most precious resource.

The loss of our public forests will mean an area equivalent to two medium sized counties will be gone forever, all the potential benefits to local communities (now needed more than ever) will be lost. Access to rivers and water rights, fishing and hunting rights, wild fruits, nuts, mushrooms and basic access to nature will be removed, as well as the environmental services trees provide.

The Irish forests need to be placed in a trust to safeguard them now and into the future. We also wish to see the public forests developed and diversified to maximise their potential multiple benefits for the common good of the Nation. This should focus on the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of our neglected native tree species. The native trees of any place are scientifically recognised to be the most valuable land based habitat for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

We hope that you appreciate the seriousness of this matter, that you will reconsider any notion of selling the public forests and proceed to act in the best interests of the Irish people.

"Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmad?, Tá deireadh na gcoillte ar lár"
"What will we do without wood?, now the forest lies low"

Daibhí ÓBruadair (circa 1700's), a brehon poet lamenting the loss of the great Irish forests in his famous poem Caoine Cill Chais.

Photo, Hawthorn by Carlene Gildea

What will the Sale and Loss of Ireland's Public Forests actually mean:

• An area the size of two medium sized counties like Meath will be in Private ownership, which could entail having Private security companies with razor-wire fencing in place to prevent the sovereign citizens of Ireland accessing their old rights of way, areas of commonage, archaeological and sites of cultural significance.
  
• Some of our most valuable native woodland sites will be threatened, the last remains of our ancient wild places, the refuge of our native flora and fauna.
  
• The opportunity to transform the green desert of monocultural chemical dependent exotic species that passes for state forestry, back to a natural Native woodland model will be lost.
  
• The public will be unable to prevent unsustainable development happening in their woodlands, like quarries, windfarms, incinerators, nursing homes, golf courses, etc.
  
• All the benefits from the forests, now needed more than ever, will be removed from local communities. These include firewood, wild fruits, nuts & mushrooms and basic access to nature for walking, mountain-biking etc.
  
• Access to rivers and water rights, fishing, will also be taken away.
  

Lest we forget, Ireland's natural environment and indigenous culture is western seaboard temperate rainforest embedded, even though the Great Forests were taken, their spirit is in the land, the poetry, and music of Ireland. Losing control of the public forests is too high a price to pay for a culture that is still trying to find its way back to its Forest culture. It was the Great Forests which sustained the Gaelic people for centuries as an independent highly civilised people, renowned for their wisdom and learning, its removal was part of the process of that culture's final destruction.

The Brian Boru Oak, Co. Clare, is believed to be over 900 years old.

Issues associated with the sale of Coillte:

• Since the McCarthy report of June 2009, the selling of Coillte, and Ireland's entire public forest estate, has been on the cards.
  
• The Woodland League, have always suspected that Coillte was set up a) as a vehicle to facilitate the extraction of huge grants from the EU, and b) to consolidate, and sell off, a major Public asset, the largest land bank.
  
• In November of 2009 disgraced ex Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was appointed chairman of a Swiss finance company with forestry interests. They have, openly expressed their interest in buying Coillte.
  
• Coillte was created in 1989 and "gifted" the land bank of the Forest Service, (up till then managed under the Department of Agriculture). It was set up as a semi state body, with two shareholders, the Minister for Finance Albert Reynolds holding 99 shares, and the Minister for Energy Michael Smith(connection to energy and resources, Shell etc) with 1 share, on behalf of the public.
  
• The Land Commission set up in the late 1800's to redistribute land to the people after the victory of the Land League, was dissolved on the same day, and all its remaining assets were transferred to Coillte. There is no record of the size of this land bank or what other assets came with it, e.g. properties, etc.
  
• Coilltes first act was to commission a geological survey of the land beneath the trees, the results of which are not in the public domain. The new owners may inherit rich mineral deposits.
  
• From its inception, Coillte was excluded from FOI (Freedom of Information) making it impossible to obtain information regarding its business, its employees operate under the Official Secrets act.
  
• Bizarre indeed, for a company whose remit is the planting and growing of trees to increase the public forest estate and manage this gift wisely.
  
• Since 1989, Coillte have posted 300 million Euros in profits.
  
• They have acted as the largest unofficial land developer in Ireland and have sold thousands of acres in that period, including the 400 acres to facilitate Shells refinery in Mayo.
  
• In their 21 years existence, they have made one contribution to the public exchequer -- 2.5 million Euros, last year.
  
• This coincided with Coillte requiring a loan facility of 400 million Euros, from a government in financial crisis. This is 100 million euros more than all of their profits over 21 years. The loan was approved by the Dail during Christmas week 2009.
  
• Coillte claim they are now in debt to the tune of 179 million Euros.
  
• The CEO, David Gunning has stated the traditional forestry model in Ireland is no longer valid, when giving a presentation to the joint agriculture committee in 2009.
  
• Recently, Coillte's estate was valued by a State agency at 1.2 billion euros, approx 1000 euros per acre.
  

As the Woodland League sees it we are facing a situation where a company has so mismanaged its millions of funds in grants and payments that it is in debt, that this same company has, in 21 years, made virtually no return to the exchequer, and that now, a former Taoiseach, privy to Coillte's real worth (including geological) is attempting to sell it, and one million acres of Ireland, to Swiss financiers.

Someone must shout STOP!!!

" A culture" the poet W.H. Auden said, "Is no better than its woods."
A place without trees, he implied, has no roots, no strength and no shelter.

Please Sign Our Petition at www.thepetitionsite.com
When asked for postcode enter 1234.

Thanking you for your support.

See the following Woodland League press releases for further information:

Press Release 27 Aug.pdf - Millenium Woodlands

Ireland cannot afford to sell the peoples forests.pdf - McCarthy Report

External Links:


Ahern's international forestry body could own 7% of Irish land - Tribune Article December 5, 2010

The International Forestry Fund presents to the China Investment Corporation - While Ireland was facing economic & sovereign meltdown with the IMF sharks circling her waters, Bertie Ahern (an elected representative of the Irish People) was in China, in a private capacity as chairman of the IFF.

A note of thanks to all our supporters, and a Happy New Year - The Woodland League


As the Woodland League operate on a voluntary basis we would welcome any financial contributions, large or small, towards continuing our work. We are currently trying to raise funds for a freedom of information request, our continuing campaign and also for ongoing phone bills and other costs.

Donations can be sent to -

The Woodland League, C/O East Clare Community Co-op, Main Street, Scarriff, Co. Clare.

or

Bank Details -

Bank of Ireland, Tulla, Co. Clare.
Account No: 80998623
NSC: 904480
IBAN No: IE53 BOFI 9044 8080 9986 23
BIC No: BOFIIE2D

Contact -

Andrew St Ledger, PRO The Woodland League
stledgerwood@gmail.com
087 9933157