The Irish government has announced an ambitious plan to fight climate change, setting a planting target for Ireland of 440 million trees by 2040, The Irish Times reported.
Ireland will plant around 22 million new trees across the country each year until 2040, hoping to get to a number of at least 440 million trees planted to help combat the damaging effects of climate change. The targets for new forestry were part of the government’s climate action plan released in June, but specific numbers of trees weren’t released.
“The climate action plan commits to delivering an expansion of forestry planting and soil management to ensure that carbon abatement from land-use is delivered over the period 2021 to 2030 and in the years beyond. The target for new forestation is approximately 22 million trees per year. Over the next 20 years, the target is to plant 440 million.”
– a spokesperson for Ireland’s Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
However, the initiative has already faced some opposition from farmers, who will need to be convinced to set aside some of their land for the trees to meet the government’s targets.
“Taking decisive action to confront climate disruption will be a major challenge to every dimension of our society, but the benefits are huge – warmer homes, cleaner air, a sustainable use of the world’s scarce resources, more connected communities, authentic values, and quality jobs in enterprises which can compete in a decarbonized world,” the government said in July while unveiling the plan. “This is everyone’s journey.”
Most of the planting will be done by the State, farmers and other large landowners by spurring renewed interest in existing grant schemes, but anyone with a quarter acre can apply and there are schemes to assist community groups.
One-third of the trees are to be broad-leaved, which would help restore some of the native woodland which was lost.
Trees are a vital tool in climate action as they absorb greenhouse gas and ease some of the effects of climate change.
Source: www.irishtimes.com
