Commercial firm Coillte is being urged to convert its 2,500 acres of forestry in the Dublin Mountains into a National Park.

The Green Party made the call after it welcomed an announcement that Coillte is halting planned clear felling of 20 acres of trees in Ticknock Forest Park.

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD said: "The trees are worth far more as a part of a forest park as a recreational facility rather than being chopped down for lumber.

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"We now want to see this approach extended to all 2,500 acres of Coillte managed forests in the Dublin Mountains. They can be managed as a new National Park, by switching to a 'continuous cover' rather than 'clear felling' form of forestry.

"Under this approach you take out individual groups of trees to create small clearings within the existing cover. This allows older and more valuable trees grow alongside smaller saplings. It is better for sustainability, better for biodiversity, more profitable for Coillte in the long run, better for tourism and better for the people of Dublin city."

(CD/LM)