{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Forestry Now","title":"Electricity Corridors and Existing Forests with Donal Whelan","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3346,"description":"Today I'm joined by Donal Whelan from the Irish Timber Growers Association. We talk a little about the role of the ITGA itself but we mostly focus on a new challenge for forest owners across Ireland - proposals to widen ESB corridors through existing semi mature and mature forests. We talk about the long established practice which facilitates power lines in new plantations and how owners are compensated for areas that cannot be planted with trees. Then we move on to the many possible implications if ESB corridors are widened without adequate engagement and consultation with forest owners - hugely increased windblow risk in areas adjoining cleared sections, reduced future access to area based forestry and farming support schemes, reduced access to basic farming payments, disruption and reduction of harvest income, sterilisation of underlying ground from future planting not to mention the thorny issues of who prevents woody regrowth from establishing or if the cleared areas will be made fit for return to agricultural activity with provision for livestock grade fencing. Some forest owners, myself included, have already being approached by the ESB and Donal reflects on what land owners are obliged (under current legislation) to facilitate at present. \nThis podcast is supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. If you're thinking of planting a new forest or if you want information on financial and technical supports to manage your existing forest then go to \nhttp://gov.ie/forestryforyou\n\nAbout Donal:\nDonal Whelan, B.Agr.Sc. (Forestry) is a forestry graduate from University College Dublin and is principal of Commercial Forestry Services Ltd. (CFS) and Technical Director of the Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA). Since 1986 Donal Whelan has provided forestry consultancy, management and advisory services to a wide range of corporate and private clients. A number of woodlands managed by Donal Whelan have won the National RDS – FS Forestry...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/y-Ns7qgeQc4APOd80Zlamk7qjqkdHoEVT6BTEG7fO4A/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84ZmZj/ZWY3Yjg1ZjZiZmYy/ZTNjMGQ5YWZlY2Jh/NWUwMS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}