Irish Aid

Irish Aid funds Just Forests 'Thinking TREES' resource and 'Wood of Life Exhibition' with schools under the Development Education Funding Scheme.

Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries.

http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/

7th September 2010

Dear Mr Roche,

Let me first congratulate you and your organisation on your twenty one years of sustained advocacy.

We appreciate our partnership with you over the past number of years, recognising our shared commitment to advancing the concerns and interests of the World’s poorest people and in particular the importance and relevance of wood and forestry and poor people’s access and management of these resources for their livelihoods, health, environment and well-being.

Your development education efforts have helped advance the Irish Public’s awareness of forestry and development issues. I share your enthusiasm and support for the European Parliament decision in July to close EU markets to illegally logged timber. I understand that the new legislation should be ready for final adoption in October.

Ireland fully supports these developments. I expect that they will contribute significantly to developing countries efforts to manage their forestry resources in a sustainable manner.

You have rightly highlighted the increasing importance of forestry, particular in the context of climate change. Given the growing recognition of the role and potential of forestry to contribute to livelihoods of the poor and in addressing the growing challenge that climate change presents, the work of your organisation is of increasing importance.

I congratulate you on the progress your organisation has made over the past twenty one years and wish you deserved continued success in your work.

Peter Power T.D.
Minister of State

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Irish Aid & Just Forests

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Links between Education and the Environment- Irish Aid Key Sheet 07
	irishaid-key-sheet-1.pdf (296.13 KB)