Article

The Waterford Forestry Owners Group is advocating for national certification for forest owners, following the appointment of Kathleen Lucy, IFO Certification Manager, to the Forest Certification Scheme board by Minister of State Michael Healy Rae. A pathway has been established for non-certified forest owners to achieve certification, with the certification board (iPlan) collaborating with existing groups, including the IFO.

Since 2018, the initiative for certification has been led by forest owners, responding to a timber market demand for 70% certified products. The group is also exploring carbon credits, indicating that certification will be integral to this scheme.