Coillte and IFI unite on nature restoration projects
A deal has been reached between two State agencies on delivering greater environmental protection and nature restoration projects.
Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state environment agency for inland fisheries and sea angling resources signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week.
The agreement broadens the existing working relationship between the agencies which has seen them collaboratively deliver conservation projects aimed at protecting, enhancing, and restoring important ecosystems across Coillte’s forestry estate and Ireland’s inland waterways.
The newly-signed MOU will see IFI and Coillte working together on nature restoration projects to facilitate and support improved sustainability, with particular emphasis on restoring riparian corridors within the Coillte estate to increase climate resilience, improve habitat for fish and remove barriers to the free passage of fish and other aquatic fauna.
The collaborative approach between Coillte and IFI paves the way for further projects similar to the restoration works which took place in Devil’s Glen in County Wicklow last year, aiming to enhance the spawning conditions for sea trout and salmon in the Vartry River.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael-Healy Rae commented, “A collaborative approach across society is needed to meet our environmental and climate resilience needs and this MoU between Coillte and IFI is a great example of such co-operation in action.
Mark Carlin, MD of Coillte Forest said: “This year Coillte will reach the strategic target of increasing the area of our estate managed primarily for nature from 20% to 30%, and in the long term we are targeting to transform areas of our forests so that 50% of our estate is managed primarily for nature, while continuing to supply sustainably grown Irish wood. Greater collaboration with Inland Fisheries Ireland will complement our forests for nature ambitions.”
According to Barry Fox, Head of Operations at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “We’re aiming to restore fish habitats to natural conditions, improve water quality, and ensure adequate passage for fish as they migrate. We are committed to cooperating and coordinating on common work areas to enhance our collective environmental and climate action goals.”
A copy of the Coillte / IFI MoU is available here.
