The Threat to our Forests and Trails

Coillte, Ireland's State-owned forestry company have recently published details of their plans to clear-fell large areas of forest in Dublin and North Wicklow. These areas will include Djouce, Slade Valley and Tibradden. You can read the proposals in detail here.



This is not only disastrous for mountain bikers but for anyone who enjoys outdoor recreation. Coillte see their mandate as being to make money through forest operations - but this should not be at the public expense and in areas of such obvious amenity value. Their operations have already been widely criticized. We desperately need a change of focus from short term profit to proper forest and countryside managment, either by Coillte or another state body.

There will be a report on this issue on RTE 6 o'clock news on Tuesday January 30th and we should all do what we can to keep this in the public eye. I encourage you to contact your local public representatives to express your concern at these developments and demand that action be taken. Being an election year we may have a greater chance of being listened to.

You can also make yourself heard by signing this online petition.