Opinion survey confirms that awareness of forestry increases as people become concerned about climate change
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A new public attitude survey into the Forest Service has been published.
The report on the Northern Ireland Forest Service forms part of the UK wide survey of Public Opinion of Forestry 2007. The survey, undertaken in February 2007, posed questions to around 1,000 adults in Northern Ireland.
The survey is essential in gaining an insight into people’s perception of the public benefits of forestry.
Public awareness of forestry-related issues and activities has increased.
51% of respondents had seen or read about Northern Ireland’s forests in the last 12 months – up from 38% in the 2005 survey.
Topics most widely recognised included:
Tree planting;
Birds and other animals in woodland; and
Climate change.
55% of respondents
believed that climate change would have a large impact on Northern Ireland.
78% of respondents agreed that trees are good because they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in wood.
As well as producing timber and providing a home for wildlife, woodland creation also contributes to reduction in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which helps to reduce the impact of climate change. Under the Woodland Grant Scheme, Forest Service assisted landowners to create 1,350 acres of woodland during the 2006/07 financial year, most of which consists of broadleaves.
To further Government policy on renewable energy, Forest Service also operate a Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) scheme which is designed to assist landowners to establish approved willow energy crops. SRC is a specialised form of forestry and involves growing high yielding willow and harvesting every two to three years. The harvested crop is converted into wood chips which can be used to generate heat and electricity. SRC growers are contributing in a real way to an increase in forestry cover in Northern Ireland and producing a renewable energy from wood, as an alternative to oil or coal.
Further details of Forestry Grant Schemes are available by phoning Forest Service on 02890 765391 or through the Forest Service website www.Forestserviceni.gov.uk. The survey is also available through the website.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The survey was carried out between 21 and 28 February 2007.
2. Interviewing is carried out over 45 freshly selected sampling points.
3. The Forestry Commission (GB) completed equivalent surveys of 1,000 adults in both Scotland and Wales.
4. The Forestry Commission also completed a separate, comparative survey of 4,000 adults in GB.
5. A final report charting the data and providing more detailed analysis will be published in October 2007.
6. All Media enquiries to DARD press office, tel: 028 9052 4619.
