Keep Ireland green with the Irish Heritage Tree Program

Ireland has pledged to end deforestation by 2030 but more can be done to keep the fields of Ireland green and lush.

To the world, Ireland is the Emerald Isle, beautiful and green. But in truth, Ireland's forests have been slowly decimated over the years by human activity.

Our tree coverage is only 11% and is among the European nation's lowest ranking, news that will come as a shock to many people.

Keep Ireland green by being part of the Irish Heritage Tree Program

At the COP26 climate summit in Glasglow in 2021, a hundred countries, including Ireland, signed a pledge to end deforestation by 2030. The climate crisis is a daunting problem affecting everyone but what more can be done?

IrishCentral knows how important our environment is and alongside the Irish Tree Council, we run the Irish Heritage Tree Program. Together we restore native woodlands with the aim of rewilding and returning the landscape to nature, and you can be a part of this amazing project.

Help keep Ireland green by planting a tree with the Irish Heritage Tree

We're proud to say that our original forest in Co Tipperary is now complete and 3,500 native trees have been planted. We have begun planting in our second location near Drimoleague, West Cork with the help of Farmer Tim Daly. Amazingly. each acre of mature trees can capture 2.6 tons of CO2 per year.

Planting native trees is a statement of belonging to that soil and to the ancestors who tilled it. The Irish Heritage Tree Program is determined to bring these forests back to life for the future generations of Ireland.

"The native trees that we grow last for up to 500 years, so you're leaving a long legacy there," explains John Purcell, farmer and owner of our site in County Tipperary.

"You wouldn't believe the contribution it's making to the environment and our biodiversity with the amount of biodiversity in just one tree, the number of animals that it supports - the bugs, the caterpillars, the bees, nesting for birds."