Coillte held its Climate Change and Irish Forestry Conference in Farmleigh House in Dublin on Monday, 29 February.

The conference brought together representatives to address the risks and opportunities that climate change presents to the Irish forestry sector.

The conference was opened by EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.

Mr Hogan said: "At European level, we recently took the crucial step of delivering the EU Forest Strategy - providing guidance, direction and a blueprint for truly joined-up thinking in relation to this important sector. There is a pressing need to ensure the long term sustainable management and development of forests, balancing the economic, social and environmental benefits they deliver. It is critical that sustainable forestry strategies are developed hand in hand with sustainable food security solutions. This is as true for the rest of Europe as it is for Ireland."

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Welcoming delegates to the conference Fergal Leamy, CEO said: "At Coillte we want to take a leadership position in shaping policy and being at the forefront of developments. It is for this reason that we want to begin a conversation around the role forestry should play in climate change and in particular in helping Ireland achieve its future commitments."

(CD/LM)