Coillte and IFI sign Memorandum of Understanding
Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the national environment agency for inland fisheries and sea angling, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster deeper collaboration between the two bodies.
The new agreement builds on the existing relationship between Coilte and IFI, with the aim of promoting even greater partnership, collaboration and enhanced cooperation on nature restoration projects across the state's forestry estate and Ireland’s inland waterways.
The MoU aims to help:
- Maintain a network of technical and operational managers;
- Promote the exchange of data and advice relating to the management of ecosystems;
- Boost scientific and technical cooperation through the commission of mutually beneficial research projects.
Going forward, particular emphasis will be placed by both 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, as was the case at Devil's Glen, Co. Wicklow.
The restoration works carried out on the Vartry River at Devil’s Glen by Coillte in collaboration with the IFI helped improve instream conditions, especially spawning areas for sea trout and salmon.
To achieve this, trees were felled into the river and gravel was deposited behind them to improve the structural diversity with the formation of pools, riffles and glides, as well as spawning areas for fish and insects.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael-Healy Rae said: “I very much welcome this initiative and the commitment from both Coillte and IFI to working together to enhance the quality of our watercourses and to restore fish habitats.
"The proposed projects to restore riparian corridors throughout Coillte’s estate through native tree area planting aligns with Ireland’s strategic vision for forestry which foresees the sustainable protection of our water quality.
"My department is also supporting native tree area planting for water protection under the forestry programme with a view to helping Ireland achieve its objectives in the river basin management plan 2023-2027.
"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 cooperation in action," the minister added.
According to Coillte, which manages 440,000ha of forestry, it has set a strategic target of increasing the national forestry estate managed for nature from 20% to 50% by the end of 2025, with the goal of increasing this even further to 50% in the future.
