The government’s plans to increase forest cutting quotas will be detrimental to Lithuania’s woodlands and go against the European Green Deal, argues Mariel McCormack in an open letter to Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
Seven years ago, when I arrived in Lithuania as a tourist from Ireland, I fell head over heels in love with this country’s nature. It amazed me that I could explore vast mature forests and swim in countless woodland lakes. This feeling of freedom in nature was totally new for me. I made Lithuania my home.
I had the great pleasure of working on the publication of The Red Data Book of Lithuania. Animals, Plants, and Fungi (2021) and Invasive and Alien Species in Lithuania (to be published this year). These projects have deepened my exploration of Lithuania’s flora and fauna.
In Ireland, the vast majority of our countryside is privately owned and inaccessible to the public. Furthermore, we have very little mature woodland. By the end of the 19th century, Ireland’s forest cover had been reduced from what was once 80 percent to about 1 percent. Today, we have about 11 percent, the majority of which consists of trees less than 30 years old.
My Lithuanian partner and I live surrounded by forest outside Vilnius. I am so pleased to share my home and the beautiful nature of this country with my family and friends from Ireland. They love it here and are so impressed by the quality of life that we have. In Ireland, you would pay a huge sum of money to walk out of your back door and into mature accessible forests.
I was shocked when I read that the Lithuanian Ministry of the Environment is going against international scientific consensus on sustainable forest management as well as the European Green Deal by submitting a government resolution that would allow the cutting of 2.67 percent more of our mature forests over the next five years.
Already, our natural habitats in Lithuania are deteriorating. We must reject the increased deforestation of mature forests from coming into law in Lithuania, in fact, we must decrease our rate. The consensus within the international scientific community tells us that deforestation of mature woodland destroys biodiversity and natural habitats. And, furthermore, scientists tell us, cutting and replanting is absolutely not a sustainable solution. Responding to the directions of the European Green Deal, the current rate should be gradually reduced.
The world knows that natural habitats rich in biodiversity are not only beautiful places to live close to and spend our leisure time in, they are absolutely vital for our health and safety. And, as the science shows, deforestation of older forests speeds up global warming.
I appeal to you, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, listen to the consensus from our Lithuanian and international scientific community, do not sign this government resolution, protect Lithuania’s mature woodlands.
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Mariel McCormack (instagram.com/mariel.mccormack/) is an Irish resident of Vilnius. She was the English editor for The Lithuanian Red Book, Animal Plants and Fungi (2021) and Invasive and Alien Species in Lithuania (to be published this year).
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