Local Authorities
Local Authorities must lead by example, so come on and MAKE A PLEDGE FOR FORESTS.
Local Authorities play a significant role in promoting 'sustainable' development in Ireland and they must lead by example:
A proposal that the Irish Government should have a National Timber Procurement Policy has received unanimous support from the members of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In a presentation to the committee by Offaly-based forest education/awareness group Just Forests,the chairman of the Committee Deputy Sean Fleming, T.D., stated
We will comply with Mr. Roche’s three requests. First, we will ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the FLEGT process. Second, we will ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to ensure that this matter is dealt with in legislation. Third, if Mr. Roche provides a copy of Offaly County Council’s policy, we will circulate it to all other local authorities asking them to consider putting in place similar policies.
Deputy Sean Fleming, T.D.
This is a great step forward according to Tom Roche, co-ordinator of Just Forests. “We have been working towards this end for 20 years.Just Forests supplied two documents 2 weeks in advance of the meeting for circulation to committee members and provided a copy of the actual presentation for each member on the day. If you would like a copy of these documents please contact the office.
1. Timber Policy Brochure
2. Timber Policy Summary
3. Actual Presentation by Just Forests
The official report of Just Forests presentation to the Joint Committee on Environment, Heritage and local Government is available. - Read Transcript of Parliamentary Debate with Tom Roche of Just Forests
What Your Local Authority is Doing?
Remember Deputy Sean Fleming, TD, has already informed all local authorities about the need for a 'responsible timber policy'. So Local Authorities get involved and MAKE A PLEDGE FOR FORESTS.
Sustainable Timber Action (STA)
STA aims to assist European public authorities in making sure the wood/timber products they buy are produced and traded in a sustainable and fair way.
Public authorities in Europe purchase huge quantities of timber-based products each year, for building and civil construction, office and outdoor furniture, and office paper and stationery - an estimated 15 percent of all timber and paper sold in Europe. Much of this timber is illegally or unsustainably harvested. Furthermore, local communities and smaller forest enterprises often benefit little from such trade.
The Sustainable Timber Action project aims to inform public authorities in Europe about the human and environmental impacts of the timber trade, and how they can contribute by purchasing timber responsibly.
The project will:
Produce guidance and training for public authorities on how to procure fair and sustainable timber, and carry out pilot procurement actions
Develop a dual model for timber suppliers on how to integrate fair trade and sustainable forest management certification.
More on Sustainable Timber Action here..
| Presentatiion to Dail Committee on Environment | |
|---|---|
 | JFpresentationMAY09 FINAL pdf.pdf (91.8 KB) |
Ringfort Workshop, Rathcobican, Rhode, Offaly, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)86 8049389 | E-mail: info@tomroche.ie