Minister Michael Healy-Rae TD has announced the reopening of the updated Woodland Environmental Fund, presenting a significant opportunity for businesses within the construction sector to engage in environmental stewardship and offset their impact.

Minister Healy-Rae specifically encouraged businesses of all sizes to consider participating in the fund. "I would like to encourage businesses of all types and sizes to consider participating in the Woodland Environmental Fund," he stated. "Doing so not only helps local landowners and expands Ireland’s native woodlands - with all of the positive benefits associated with this resource - but it also enhances the reputation of the participating business, which is then associated with the creation of a significant tangible environmental asset that will become a permanent feature of the landscape."

The Minister highlighted the broader environmental benefits of expanding native forests, which are particularly relevant to the construction industry's sustainability goals. "Expanding our native forests will benefit natural habitats, enhance water quality, and promote carbon capture," he noted. These factors align with increasing environmental regulations and the growing emphasis on sustainable construction practices.

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The Woodland Environmental Fund, initially established in 2020 under the previous Forestry Programme, has been reintroduced under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027. Farmers and landowners applying for native forest afforestation can choose to participate in the fund. Businesses can then collaborate with a Woodland Environmental Fund Facilitator to identify and support specific projects that align with their environmental objectives and available resources.

Minister Healy-Rae concluded by emphasising the corporate social responsibility aspect for participating businesses. "The Woodland Environmental Fund is an ideal way for a business to exercise, and demonstrate, its corporate social responsibility, as the restoration of Ireland’s once-vast forests of oak, birch and alder delivers real environmental benefits, as well as providing additional income to farmers."

For construction firms seeking to mitigate their environmental footprint, enhance their green credentials, and contribute to biodiversity and carbon sequestration initiatives, the updated Woodland Environmental Fund offers a tangible and publicly visible avenue for investment. The scheme allows businesses to directly support the creation of native woodlands, contributing to a more sustainable built environment in the long term.