Establishing Small Forests – Restoring Ireland’s Forestry

On the 26th of March the Climate Bar held a CPD for members in regards to Establishing Small Forests in hopes of restoring Ireland's Forestry.

Ireland has one of the lowest forest cover percentages in Europe (approx. 11–12%), and even less is native woodland. Members and others may not be aware of the generous grants available and the support provided through Teagasc and other advisors to establish and develop small forests.

If you are a landowner, may be in the future, or know of others, planting small native forests is crucial to restoring biodiversity, as they can sequester carbon up to 30 times more efficiently than grasslands. These fast-growing small forests help revive endangered ecosystems. Also welcome, perhaps given the weather this year, is that they can also mitigate local flooding.

The Climate Bar (Comhshaol) organised a CPD session for members throughout the country with an interest now, or in the future, in establishing or helping to establish small forests.

At the end of the presentation, participants:

Understood the key elements of establishing and maintaining small forests, the process, and the legal framework
Recognised key aspects of planting options (native woodland, agroforestry, conifers), grants, and navigating the 2023–2027 Forestry Programme

The CPD was chaired by Vincent P Martin SC with featured speakers including Michael Somers from Teagasc, Mariana Conway who is Head of Woodlands and a 2025 Nuliffield Scholar as well as William Lacy from Lacy Walsh Solicitors and Siobhan McCarthy from Veon Ltd.