A chara, - As is implied in the name of this organisation, we are proud to be associated with the growing of trees and with the growth of forestry in this country. The achievement of the foresters of this century, and especially of the last 40 years, has been spectacular indeed. The rate of creation of indigenous rural wealth and increasingly valuable exports has been truly an accomplishment of nation-building.
Arthur Griffith, as a trenchant advocate of tree planting, and Augustine Henry, as an internationally-known dendrologist and occupant of the first chair of forestry in this country, would be proud of an industry which is at last fulfilling in goodly measure the hopes of the early visionaries.
Aided by generous EU funding, planting is currently close to 25,000 hectares a year. As the programme has expanded, so has the responsibility for increased awareness of landscaping, archaeology and water quality considerations. The ambition of my organisation is the planting of trees, whether in town or country, for the right reasons and in the right place.
An industry which employs close on 15,000 people, which makes us almost 70 per cent self sufficient in sawn wood, totally self-sufficient in pulp and which by the turn of the century will make us a nett exporter of timber with a doubling of employment in the next decade, has a right to be proud of its achievements. It deserves the enthusiastic support of the citizens.
There is increasingly widespread use of wood and wood products in city and country for both structural and decorative use. A prime example is the new regional offices of Coillte at Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow.
Now, during National Tree Week, is a time to be proud of forestry. It is time likewise to be vigilant in the best land use and social considerations. We have come a long way. And we still have a journey ahead, and indeed, as a nation always will have further progress to make and further refinement to introduce. - Is mise, le meas,
Hon. secretary, Trees for Ireland, Rathgar Road, Dublin 6.