State to be forestry ‘player’ in battle to hit climate targets

The State is to again buy land for forestry to meet climate change targets. Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has said the State “should be a player again, in terms of afforestation”, and it also wants all farmers to plant a piece of their land. The Government’s own climate action plan acknowledges that Ireland will not achieve its 18% land-coverage target by 2046.

“We have missed our targets, and issues around the State getting back into active afforestation is something that is under consideration,” Mr Creed told the Irish Examiner. “Plus, how a new forestry programme might need to be designed to make it more attractive to farmers is equally important.