Initiatives

Woodlands of Ireland was centrally involved in the development of two key projects in order to pursue our objectives. They are:

1 The development of a millennium project on native trees and woodlands, which resulted in the People's Millennium Forests project, and

2. 2. The development of a primarily conservation-oriented scheme targeted specifically at native woodlands that would be open to public and private owners. This has led to the new 'Native Woodland Scheme', which was further developed, launched and administered by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

1. The Native Woodland Scheme

Initial guidelines for a native woodland scheme were drawn up by Woodlands of Ireland, especially its Technical Advisory group in conjunction with ENGOs, foresters, ecologists and others working in this field. At the behest of the Steering Committee, it was submitted to the Forest Service in 1999 and was received favourably. Subsequently, the Forest Service formed a Native Woodland Development Group (NWDG), which included relevant statutory bodies, professionals and Woodlands of Ireland. The scheme was officially launched in October 2001 and consists of two elements, i.e. Element 1 – Conservation of existing woodlands, and Element 2 – Creation of new native woodlands. Although the scheme was initially curtailed by funding restrictions in the first two years of its operation, nearly 5,000 hectares of native woodland will have been managed under the scheme by the end of 2008. The majority of applications consist of the restoration of existing native woodlands (Element 1), with the creation of some new native woodlands (Element 2) and the establishment of native riparian woodlands (Elements 1 & 2). Woodlands of Ireland provide technical support to the Forest Service for the scheme, especially in the development of Native Woodland Scheme Information Notes and accompanying 'Technical Bulletins' publications, input to the Forest Service Native Woodland Scheme manual, woodland management initiatives, native woodland training and nursery stock production initiatives. Government restrictions in funding announced in July 2008 has resulted in the curtailment of Element 1 of the scheme which is a serious setback even though Element 2 is still open for applications.