Can planting trees help fight climate change?
A recent study looked at whether planting trees can combat climate change and it estimated that by planting more than a half trillion trees we could capture about 205 gigatons of carbon, reducing atmospheric carbon by about 25 percent. However scientists warn that while large scale tree planting will negate about 20 years of human-produced carbon emissions, it will never be a substitute for decreasing fossil fuel emissions.
However we are all well aware of the benefits of trees for example:
- Storing carbon from the atmosphere
- Releasing oxygen into the air
- Helping to restore biodiversity
- Prevents pollution in rivers
- Help to reduce noise
- Filtering fine particle pollutants
Ireland has only 11% forestry coverage – Less than 1% of Ireland’s forestry is permanent native woodland . The most common Irish native trees include oak, ash, hazel, birch, Scots pine, rowan and willow. The tree council of Ireland have these and more species illustrated here https://treecouncil.ie/tree-advice/native-species/
The Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme incorporates 12 separate Grant and Premium Categories (GPCs), providing options including productive conifers, broadleaf species, native woodland initiatives as well as agroforestry and forestry-for-fibre options.
The Afforestation Grant is available to establish your forest and to maintain it for the first four years (‘Second Grant’). https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/grants/establishment-grants/brief-overview-of-forestry-grant-rates/
The Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, or Forest Bathing, is good for both physical and mental wellbeing. It is proven to reduce stress hormone production, improve feelings of happiness and free up creativity, as well as lower heart rate and blood pressure, boost the immune system and accelerate recovery from illness.