Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as timber supply forecasts, are the responsibility of the company. I understand that Coillte produces forecasts of the gross standing volume of roundwood in its estate, which form the basis for the company’s annual supply programme and its offer to its customers. This forecasted volume is validated on an annual basis through Coillte’s Roundwood Supply Document, which it shares with the wood industry, to ensure that Coillte meets its gross volume targets as set out in its Forecast.
As part of its commitment, Coillte regularly, on a 5 year rolling basis, publishes a forecast of potential roundwood supply. In the recent past this was done in 2000 (covering the 2000-2005 period), 2005 (covering the 2006-2010 period) and again in 2010 (covering the period 2011-2015). The roundwood volumes documented in these Forecasts are gross standing volume in the wood i.e. volume down to 7cm top diameter. I also understand that it is always made clear in the accompanying notes to Roundwood Supply Forecasts, each document represents an estimate of the gross standing volume in the period in broad timber dimension categories, i.e. top diameter class 7cm-13cm, 14cm-19cm and 20+cm. The forecast is not of sawlog, pulpwood and other log products that enter a wood processing mill.
As I mentioned, Coillte shares these Forecasts with its customers and the forecast figures go to make up the company’s annual supply programme and its offer to their sawmill customers. I consider that the investment in the development of processing facilities is a commercial decision for individual companies.
