A total of 15 proposals for forestry promotion are to be implemented over the next two years with a funding package of almost €830,000.

The winning proposals were selected from 40 entries, all of which aimed to highlight the multifunctional benefits of forestry, promote planting of more trees and encourage sustainable forest management.

Announcing the successful projects, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle TD said: "This announcement is timely as we celebrate the end of a brilliant National Tree Week. The response to this call has been hugely encouraging with a wide  range of really innovative proposals submitted right across the country. The successful projects range from those with a local focus to others which will have a nationwide reach. I am particularly delighted to see a number of successful projects which will promote the planting of broadleaf trees. This will build upon our continuing success in increasing the percentage of broadleaves planted, with well over 500,000 broadleaves planted so far in 2019."

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He added: "The recent Oireachtas Committee's report on Climate Change has clearly identified the essential role which forestry can play in tackling this issue. It has set a challenge for us all to which we must respond. The benefits of forestry range from environmental to economic and recreational and I look forward to the roll-out of these projects in raising awareness of these right across Ireland."

Some of the winning projects include a woodland festival, open days for native woodland establishment, promotion of hardwood in the bioeconomy and numerous school based initiatives that take school children out of the classroom and into local forests to learn about nature and trees.

For a full list of successful proposals visit the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website.

(CM/JG)