The Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) was formed in 1977 to support the development and expansion of private sector forestry in Ireland and to represent and inform woodland owners. It is now the recognised national representative body of private woodland owners in Ireland. The Association is particularly concerned that private plantations achieve their maximum potential by the implementation of good forest management practices throughout their rotation. To ensure good returns from forestry, plantations must be well established and actively managed throughout their life. This is where the ITGA provides valuable support services to its members.

These services include:

• Newsletters
  Association Newsletters and sometimes other publications are circulated free to members.
  
  
• Annual Forestry & Timber Yearbook
  For the past 28 years, an annual Forestry Yearbook has been produced by the Association. This Yearbook contains industry information, forestry statistics and a well established Directory of Services. This Yearbook is now regarded as the definitive standard reference book for the forest industry in Ireland.
  

  
  
  Pictured at the launch of the 2017 ITGA Forestry & Timber Yearbook were Donal Whelan (ITGA), Mechteld Schuller (ITGA), Donal Magner (Yearbook Editor), Minister of State for Forestry, Andrew Doyle TD, Brendan Lacey, (Chairman, ITGA)

• Practical Forest Research Information Notes
  The COFORD Connects series of Forest Research Notes and Updates which provide forest research information in an easily accessible format are circulated free to members as they become available.
  
  
• Fielddays
  Every year three to four field days are organised to various woodlands of interest around the country. At these field days forest management issues are discussed on the ground and any problems being experienced by members can be raised and discussed. These field days offer participants the chance to exchange ideas with other timber growers and to benefit from the experience of other participants.
  

  
  
  Participants pictured at a recent ITGA fieldday

• Seminars and meetings
  An Annual Seminar is organised in conjunction with other forestry organisations to help create greater awareness of forestry issues among our membership.
  
  
• Advisory Services
  The Association engages the services of a Technical Director who can advise members on taxation, planning, insurance, grants, and various management and technical issues.
  
  
• Representation
  Through their ITGA membership, Irish timber growers are represented on a range of Industry working groups and ITGA is also regularly invited to comment on draft guidelines and other important draft documents. In addition to the contact with the Forest Service, the Association has developed a network of formal and informal contacts with the industry and at EU levels. Over the past few years the Association has been represented on some twenty organisations. ITGA also networks and collaborates on a regular basis on matters relating to forestry with several national and international organisations. Representatives of ITGA attend workshops and seminars on behalf of its membership and report on developments in the forestry sector in the ITGA Newsletter. ITGA regularly makes representations on behalf of private timber growers and comments in national newspapers or on local and national radio on issues that may affect Irish timber growers.