Sir, – It is untrue that plantations containing Sitka spruce are “dead” to biodiversity, as stated by the Irish Wildlife Trust (“Wildlife trust wants Sitka book removed from schools”, April 23rd).
Plantations nowadays contain up to 35 per cent other species, mainly native to Ireland, and are alive to all forms of flora and fauna. – Yours, etc,
Gill McCarthy,
Shillelagh,
RM Block
Co Wicklow
Sir, – Caroline O Doherty’s article gives a keen insight into the latest greenwashing episode in Irish education. Earlier this week, our school, like most other primary schools in Ireland received two copies of Sitka Spruce: The Amazing Timber Tree.
The Department of Education claims that it does not have a role in “approving, commissioning, sponsoring or endorsing any content in any publication or product”.
That memo must not have reached the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine where the then Minister for State, Michael Healy-Rae, was busy writing a glowing introduction to the book in which he outlines the value of the Sitka spruce in Irish forests.
The book is written from the viewpoint of the Sitka spruce tree itself and extols its own role in supporting wildlife. This, of course, is a nonsense. Sitka spruce does not support biodiversity; it limits it almost completely.
Contrary to the claim made in the book in relation to strengthening carbon sinks where it is planted, research suggests that bogs would be far more efficient if they were left to rewild alone. The book is sponsored by commercial interests in the forestry industry. It is a clear attempt to greenwash the story of widespread spruce plantations on our beautiful mountains. The Department of Agriculture should tell us why their spokesperson thought it was right to support this propaganda.
Our two copies of the book have been dispatched to where they belong – the recycling bin – maybe some day to return as something useful, such as a school bench or a boomerang. – Yours, etc,
Aodh O Connor,
Principal,
St Damian’s NS
Dublin 12.
