The savage war being waged by Russia in Ukraine has added greater impetus to reduce our economy’s dependence on fossil fuels towards a more sustainable, biological-based economy. Forestry will become even more important in the medium term as a major producer of sustainable and renewable timber and bio-fuel for Ireland.
Forests and trees provide many environmental benefits to society including improved water quality and reduced soil erosion, along with landscape, biodiversity and recreational values. Healthy forests in critical catchments help to mitigate flood damage. Veon has long recognised the importance of sustainably managed forests and offers PEFC certification to clients for their forest estates.
Our trees sequester carbon which is the process by which carbon dioxide is absorbed during photosynthesis, and is stored as carbon in biomass (trunks, branches, foliage, and roots). Gains in forest carbon stocks through growth and sequestration will reach a maximum level over time, and are eventually offset by carbon losses through harvesting, thinning, and natural decay. However, it is important to note that timber used for construction purposes and furniture holds carbon for long periods of time whilst displacing the enormous carbon footprint of concrete and steel.
By encouraging the use of timber and timber products, these wider environmental values are recognised especially the role that commercial forests play in absorbing CO2 which is often overlooked. Today, commercial and broadleaf trees have an even more vital role to play in offsetting the impacts of climate change and we increasingly depend on our forests to regulate the climate as planting new forests is by far the most efficient and natural solution available to society to help offset our CO2 emissions.
We rely on sustainably managed forests and the related wood processing industries to provide twelve thousand jobs for Irish people supporting our families and communities. At a regional level, these forests provide us all with raw material which is used to construct our houses, heat our homes and workspaces and generate export earnings from processed timber and wood-based products.
New technologies will also create a range of opportunities to adapt and rethink the way commercial and non-commercial forestry operates as our circular bio-economy further develops.
As the importance of our natural environment is now more recognised than ever, Veon’s team of Foresters, Ecologists and Arboriculturalists continue to play an important role in the management of our clients’ forests by ensuring that land-use-change is undertaken with a focus on protecting and enhancing our natural environment. From tree surveys and tree risk assessments, to planning and development ecological surveys or Ecological Clerk of Works management, Veon Ecology together with Veon Arboriculture continue to play an important role in the provision of reliable, independent and professional environmental assessment reports. Part of the long range impacts of all this work is to assist clean energy windfarm and solar farm companies obtain the necessary planning permission enabling them to deliver fossil-free energy which we all need.
Clean energy reduces dependence on despots!
Further details on Veon Ecology:
https://www.veon.ie/veon-ecology/
Further details on Veon Arboriculture:
https://www.veon.ie/arboriculture
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