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Ireland has lost almost all its native forests

Just 2% of Ireland is covered with native forest. Dawid K Photography / shutterstock Ireland has lost almost all of its native forests – here’s how to bring them back  By Martha O'Hagan Luff Sign up for our monthly newsletter! D espite its green image, Ireland has surprisingly little forest. Across Europe, nations average around 35% forest...

Therefore the grants provide a strong financial incentive to continue to plant fast-growing non-native species which when harvested can disturb wildlife, release carbon, damage water quality and leave the landscape looking scarred. The goal of this research, by the Forest and FOR-ES projects at Trinity College Dublin, is to estimate the total value of trees in financial terms based on the value of all of their main benefits: carbon capture, impact on water and soil quality, value as timber, or as amenities, and their ability to support a variety of other plants and wildlife. Rather than supporting polluting types of agricultural activity, we propose that forestry is subsidised to a level that reflects its value as a public good, which will also reduce the likelihood of EU fines for Ireland failing to meet its emissions targets.

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