Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – Public Consultation on the Forestry Review
Submission by the Department of Tourism, Culture & Sport
Having recently noted advertisements for your public consultation, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport is taking this opportunity to comment generally on the interactions between tourism and forestry policy. We would welcome the opportunity to comment further, in the course of any inter-Departmental consultations or bilateral meetings being conducted as part of the review process.
First of all, we welcome the commitment, in line with the Renewed Programme for Government, to review State forestry policy - including the role of Coillte and its functions and operations - to take account of the critical role of forestry in relation toClimate Change and its importance to, inter alia, bio-diversity and its potential to deliver long-term employment in other downstream industries, including eco-tourism. Ireland's landscape and biodiversity are key elements of our general tourism offering, and of particular importance to outdoor activity and eco-tourism products.
Secondly, we wish to highlight the fact that the public amenity and recreation value of forests (Coillte has ten forest parks, over 150 recreation sites and three mountain biking facilities, as well as managing approximately half of all the off-road national long-distance hiking routes), especially where recreational trails are developed and maintained, is of relevance to policy on both tourism and sports participation. In this regard, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport welcomes the intention of the Coillte Review Group to take tourism and recreation policies into consideration when drafting its proposals and request that this Department, Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Sports Council/National Trails Office be afforded the opportunity to comment further during the course of the review process.
Tourism Impact Assessment Unit
Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport
31 March 2010