Mr. Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, today officially launched 'Project Forest' - an educational initiative for Transition Year students.Speaking at the launch of the project in St. Patrick's Comprehensive School in Shannon, the Minister of State complimented the Tree Council of Ireland for its development, with funding from the Forest Service of his Department, of the web-based educational resource.
“This project will provide an insight into the importance and value of forestry to our environment, society and economy”, commented Minister of State Killeen. The Clare T.D. continued: “The objectives of Project Forest are to create an understanding of the nature of woods and forests and an awareness of the role of forests in man's existence, to encourage a sense of ownership of the forest environment nationally and locally, and to create an appreciation of wood as a material.”
Minister of State Killeen added that ‘Project Forest’ provided an opportunity to delve into the whole area of trees - from the biology of the tree right through to the cultural aspect of trees. “I would encourage students to avail of the opportunity to acquire information on trees - as I believe it will stand to them in the years ahead - from choosing the most appropriate timber for a particular use to understanding the part played by trees in the ecosystem”, he concluded.
It is intended that 'Project Forest, which is accessible here, will be updated on an ongoing basis.
