Forestry featured strongly in political party manifestos on the lead up to the last general election, but this time round, the mood is more subdued. However, a few interesting proposals are emerging which are worth consideration.

The Irish forestry and forest products sector has had mixed results during the tenure of the outgoing Government but when judged against the performance of other sectors, it has performed well.

The wood processing sector has increased exports and while the afforestation programme limped along after 2003, it received a major boost in 2009 when the Renewed Programme for Government was agreed. Central to the programme was the proposal to plant 10,000 ha per annum.

Summary

As in the last election, the Green Party places forestry as an important element of its manifesto, but most forestry stakeholders are looking at the policies of Fine Gael and Labour this time round.

The Fine Gael proposal to amalgamate Coillte and Bord na Mošna into a forestry and energy company has been questioned by a number of stakeholders already.

Despite its renewable energy programme, they maintain that Coillte is primarily a forestry company whose chief objective should be to manage its forests to provide wood to the highly competitive timber processing sector along with a range of non-wood services.

Regardless of the compatibility of Coillte and Bord na Mošna, the manifesto is strong on renewable energy and few will disagree with its assessment that ''Ireland currently imports well over 90% of its energy needs, which leaves it very exposed to changes in the price of oil and possible disruption of supply''.

The Fine Gael afforestation target of 15,000ha is ambitious but vague in relation to actual funding, especially in relation to farmer planting. The proposal of a 10,000ha planting programme by the Labour Party may lack the ambition of Fine Gael, but in the current economic climate, it sounds achievable to many in the sector.

No party addresses timber supply and demand issues and, surprisingly, there is little detail on carbon sequestration given the importance placed on forestry in the National Climate Change Strategy.

All parties are opposed to the privatisation of Coillte. They may have a fight on their hands as the McCarthy Report points to possible privatisation of the company.

The impending sale of British Forestry Commission woodlands will be watched not only by decision-makers here but by the mandarins in the ECB and IMF.