Ray Ó Foghlú: A golden age of forest restoration may come…but it won’t be plain sailing

Whilst our official forestry programme hangs in the balance, our wild native woodlands are expanding quickly, writes Ray Ó Foghlú

Young native trees planted on Curraghmore Farm at the foot of Carrauntoohill. Recent data from Tailte Eireann and the National Forest Inventory (NFI) suggests overall tree cover in Ireland continues to grow, aided by the natural expansion of wild trees. Picture: Sandra Spethmann

Ireland's national tree planting schemes are in trouble. Last year, just 2,000 hectares of forest were planted from a target of 8,000 hectares. Licensing issues, environmental court challenges, and disease concerns have left the sector reeling.

However, recent data from Tailte Eireann and the National Forest Inventory (NFI) suggests overall tree cover in Ireland continues to grow, aided by the natural expansion of wild trees.