Consultation
Consultation on the draft Forest Strategy
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Open for submissions from
Submissions closed
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Consultation is closed
Following an extensive period of engagement and consultation Ireland has, for the first time a Shared National Vision for the role of trees and forests. It is an ambitious vision, which if achieved, will result in an expansion of multi-functional and diverse forests, delivering multiple benefits for climate, nature, wood, people, economy and rural development. The overarching statement of this Vision is:
‘The right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management supporting a clean, healthy and well protected environment and a sustainable economy and society’.
The outcome of the recent public consultation and engagement produced wide ranging well represented views. It generated rich insights into the views and values of Irish citizens and forestry stakeholders. For example, it is clear that people want more trees and forest cover in the Irish landscape, with climate change and biodiversity seen as the key drivers for this. There is a preference for more diverse mixed and native forests to be established and managed in ways that can enhance ecosystems and biodiversity; benefit human health and wellbeing; and contribute to the national and local economy. There is a preference to see more wood products used both as a long-term store of carbon and as a substitute to using more carbon intensive products. The consultation also identified some of the key challenges such as having sufficient capacity and resources to meet the ambition set out in the Shared Vision; achieving better integration of trees and forests with traditional farming and agricultural practices.
Informed by this earlier public consultation and engagement process and the text of the Shared Vision a draft Forest Strategy has now been completed. The Strategy, which is for the period between now and 2030 is designed to provide an overarching framework that identifies the actions needed to implement the change required. While 2030 may seem a short timeframe we need to create the conditions for change very soon so that Ireland can be on the right track to achieve the Shared National Vision for 2050 and beyond.
The Minister of State for Agriculture with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity is now inviting submissions, observations and comments on this draft Forest Strategy.
We are now seeking views on:
• The Draft Forest Strategy
You can submit your views/submission by clicking the following link - https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Consultation-on-the-Draft-Forest-Strategy
link will bring you to a site hosted on EUSurvey, a platform that is supported by the European Commission.
Or
You can post your submission to the following address: Forest Strategy Consultation, Forest Policy Section, Forestry Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford, Y35 PN52
The closing date for submissions is 29 November 2022
This document is also available for inspection at the address below during office hours on request by contacting:
Forest Strategy Consultation
Address:
Policy Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Y35 PN52
Phone number:
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is collecting this data to inform the development of the Forest Strategy. All submissions, including the name of the person or organisation making the submission, may be published on the Department’s website. However, if you wish to make a submission but not be identified publicly this can be accommodated provided it is clearly indicated when the submission is made. When making a submission please indicate if you agree, or not, to your name being published on the Departments website. Should you wish to later withdraw this given consent then please email us at: fsconsultation@agriculture.gov.ie
All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation. Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is collecting this data to inform the draft Forest Strategy. This data will be processed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR EU 2016/679), the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018 the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and DPER Consultation Principles and Guidance. All submissions, including the name of the person or organisation making the submission, may be published on the Department’s website. Any additional personal data received will not be processed, shared, or retained and will be destroyed upon receipt.
Further information on Data Protection can be found on our website here .
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy and employs appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information from unauthorised access. The Department will not process your personal data for any purpose other than that for which they were collected. Personal data may be exchanged with other Government Departments, local authorities, agencies under the aegis of the Department, or other public bodies, in certain circumstances where this is provided for by law.
The Department will only retain your personal data for as long as it is necessary for the purposes for which they were collected and subsequently processed. When the business need to retain this information has expired, it will be examined with a view to destroying the personal data as soon as possible, and in line with Department policy.