The Government has made a pledge to support the European Union's three billion trees initiative by planting five million native trees.

This initial commitment for Ireland relies on the number of indigenous trees planted through the Department's afforestation programs since 20 May 2020.

Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, said: "I am delighted to be able to say here in Brussels today that 5 million native trees have been planted under my Department’s Afforestation schemes since May 2020. The EU's 3 Billion trees pledge is an important tool for countries to help support climate, sustainability and biodiversity goals across the EU. Between now and 2030, under our ambitious new Forestry Programme and through Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, and indeed under their successor programmes, I am confident we will contribute millions more native trees towards the 3 billion goal."

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Minister Hackett also noted the importance of planting a range of tree species and the importance of appropriately sited and sustainably managed conifers for producing timber.

The European Green Deal outlines commitments and targets, as reinforced by the EU's Biodiversity and Forest Strategies, aimed at safeguarding and improving nature. Among these commitments is the undertaking to plant a minimum of three billion extra trees in the EU by 2030.

This commitment seeks to approximately double the rate of forest expansion in the EU observed from 2005 to 2020, achieved by planting an additional three billion trees by 2030. It includes the expansion of current forests and emphasises new planting on agricultural land, as well as the implementation of agro-forestry practices. Furthermore, it promotes urban greening by facilitating additional planting in urban and peri-urban areas.

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 in Ireland introduces various schemes aimed at aiding private landowners and public bodies in establishing and managing tree planting. The annual target for broadleaf trees under this program has risen from 30 per cent to 50 per cent of total annual planting. This is reflected in a substantial increase of 66 per cent in premium rates for the establishment of native forest, with €1,103 per hectare available to plant native forests and €1,142 per hectare for native forest with water over a period of 15 or 20 years.

Minister Hackett also advised: "The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is the most ambitious to date, and supports landowners to plant trees in a manner that provides lasting climate, biodiversity and wider societal benefits."