Coillte and Bord na Móna will be up to their necks in flora and fauna for the next few years if the report of the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration has its way.

While the recommendations regarding farmers and nature restoration have cornered much of the commentary around the report, the committee was not shy about putting the spotlight on Coillte and Bord na Móna.

The committee’s recommendation that the publicly-owned companies – as controllers of vast swathes of State land – should do the bulk of the early heavy lifting on nature restoration will crank up the pressure on both outfits.

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Meanwhile, the committee’s proposal that Coillte and Bord na Móna earmark a portion of their income from commercial operations to help fund the overall implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation will surely add to their discomfort.

Even semi-State entities dislike being hit in the pocket.