Press release
Ireland contributes 5 million Native trees to EU 3 Billion Trees initiative
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, has today made a pledge for Ireland in support of the European Union’s 3 Billion Trees initiative. This initial pledge for Ireland is based on the number of native trees planted under the Department’s afforestation schemes since the 20th May 2020.
Minister Hackett said:
“I am delighted to be able to say here in Brussels today that 5 million native trees have been planted under my Department’s Afforestation schemes since May 2020. The EU’s 3 Billion trees pledge is an important tool for countries to help support climate, sustainability and biodiversity goals across the EU. Between now and 2030, under our ambitious new Forestry Programme and through Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, and indeed under their successor programmes, I am confident we will contribute millions more native trees towards the 3 billion goal.”
Minister Hackett also noted the importance of planting a range of tree species and the importance of appropriately sited and sustainably managed conifers for producing timber.
The European Green Deal sets out commitments and targets, reinforced in the EU’s Biodiversity and Forest Strategies, for protecting and restoring nature. One of these commitments is the pledge to plant at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030.
This pledge aims to roughly double the forest expansion rate in the EU achieved over the period 2005-2020 with 3 billion additional trees planted by 2030. It includes the expansion of existing forests, and also focuses on new planting on agricultural land and the use of agro-forestry. It also supports urban greening through additional planting in urban and peri-urban areas.
Ireland’s new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 offers a wide range of schemes to support the establishment and management of tree-planting by private landowners and public bodies. The annual broadleaf target for this programme has increased from 30% to 50% of total annual planting. This is reflected in a substantial increase of 66% in premium rates for the establishment of native forest, with €1,103 per hectare available to plant native forests and €1,142 per hectare for native forest with water over a period of 15 or 20 years.
Minister Hackett also advised:
“The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is the most ambitious to date, and supports landowners to plant trees in a manner that provides lasting climate, biodiversity and wider societal benefits.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
3 Billion Trees Pledge
The European Union has a plan to plant 3 billion additional trees by 2030. It’s part of wider efforts to build up EU forests and tackle climate change. The 3 Billion Trees Pledge is a Europe-wide initiative.
As well as being good for the climate, it helps to improve forest health, strengthen rural areas, and contribute to urban greening. It comes with a roadmap to ensure that all tree planting efforts have positive impacts on the climate, environment and cities, and on the health and wellbeing of all EU citizens.
To be counted in the pledge, the tree must:
• Already be planted
• Have been planted or sprouted after 20 May 2020
• Must be an additional tree, not a tree that would have been planted or would have grown anyway.
• Must be a tree that benefits biodiversity and the climate, and in particular must not be an invasive alien species
Further Details are located here:
The 3 billion tree counter is located here:
Media Toolkit is available here:
Forestry Programme 2023-2027
The new Forestry Programme is open to applications. The Programme was launched in September, offering new afforestation premium rates up to 66% higher than the previous Forestry Programme. The Programme also extends annual afforestation payments to farmers from 15 years to 20, and increases them significantly, e.g. €1,142 per hectare for 20 years for planting a new forest of native trees. The annual broadleaf target for this Programme has also increased from 30% to 50% of total annual planting. This is reflected in a substantial increase of 66% in premium rates for the establishment of a native forest with €1,103 per hectare available to plant native forests and €1,142 per hectare payable for native forests for water over a period of 15 or 20 years.
The programme also includes a new Native Tree Area Scheme, which builds on a recent amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 that removed the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. This aims to increase and encourage interest in small-scale planting and offers annual premiums of up to €2,284 per hectare for 10 years.
Full details on the grant and annual payment rates for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 are available at gov.ie/forestry, along with frequently asked questions, a forestry payment calculator and payment examples.