Communities concerned about the environmental and social impacts of forestry development will be able to present their views at a series of public meetings later this month.
The meetings will coincide with attempts to set new Irish standards to meet international demands for environmentally sustainable forestry.
Increasingly, forestry developers and processors are being asked to meet forest management standards approved by the international body, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The recently formed Irish Forestry Certification Initiative, which includes representatives from Ireland's timber growers and processors, professional foresters and environmental organisations, is planning to oversee the adoption of such standards.
Once in place, it would be possible to classify timber produced in line with these standards as FSC-certified, according to IFCI chairman Mr Neil Foot. "This is one of the most innovative and exciting developments in Irish forestry - it will be of benefit economically, socially and environmentally," he said.
A steering committee elected at a public meeting last month includes representatives of the environmental organisations Crann and Voice, while Coillte, Louisiana-Pacific, the Irish Timber Council, the Irish Timber Growers' Association and the Society of Irish Foresters are also represented.
Public consultation would be an important element in agreeing FSC-approved standards for the State, Mr Foot said. "The public meetings will be an opportune time for anyone interested in or concerned about forestry to make their comments on our draft standards.
"They are also available on our website (www.ifci.buz.org) and we would particularly welcome written submissions by March 16th."
The FSC promotes environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests by establishing world-recognised principles of forest stewardship underpinned by a strong element of public consultation.
The meetings will held at: Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Co Cork, on Tuesday, February 15th; Butler House, Patrick Street, Kilkenny, on Wednesday, February 16th; An Taisce, Tailors' Hall, Dublin, on Thursday, February 17th; Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo, on Tuesday, February 22nd and Flannery's Hotel, Renmore, Dublin Road, Galway, on Wednesday, February 23rd. All meetings are at 8 p.m.
