Delivery of forestry goals required for agri sector to reach carbon neutrality 

The national Climate Action Plan highlights afforestation as the single largest land-based climate change mitigation measure available to Ireland.

In recent years there has been a substantial decline in afforestation levels with only about 2,000 hectares planted in 2021, this is only 8% of peak planting in 1995.

Research from the University of Galway has shown that the agri sector requires afforestation to be a success in order for the industry to achieve carbon neutrality.

The report, by Professor Cathal O'Donoghue, analyses the opportunities and challenges of delivering national forestry goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.