Marina Conway, Western Forestry Co-op
Summer has arrived with the lovely dry hot weather of the past few days. Whilst it is very welcome it is also a worry with regard to fire risk and uncontrolled burning.
A few dry days can dry out vegetation very quickly and the risk of forest fires increases dramatically. The main causes of forest fires over the past five years has been gorse burning, peatland burning, accidental fires and arson.
Forest owners need to be very vigiliant and make sure their forest is insured as they are required by law to replant their forest if it is burnt and one of the largest costs will be the replanting costs.
Forest Service Forest Fire Danger Rating is currently Orange – High Risk of Fire – be prepared!
Western Forestry Co-op (established in 1985) manages a group forest insurance scheme. The forest insurance scheme covers replanting costs up to a max of €3000/ha. For example, if you planted 8 ha. in 2001 and 6 ha. of it burnt, it could cost you up to €18,000 to replant that area. If you received a grant and premium from the Forest Service to plant this land and did not replant it, you will be liable to repay all the grants and premiums that you received.
Our forest insurance scheme covers:
• Loss of value (timber revenue)
• Reconstitution (replanting costs)
• Fire Brigade charges
• Public Liability (optional)
For an insurance quote or more information on the Insurance Scheme, please call Sarah on 071-9161458.
