Majority of Limerick public want more trees according to survey

A RESEARCH survey for Coillte has found that 81% of the public believes that Ireland needs to grow more trees to combat climate change.

Coillte is encouraging people in Limerick to enjoy their local forest over the winter months as 86% of survey respondents say forests are important for physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Limerick’s top Coillte Forests for recreation include Curragh Chase Forest Park, Glenstal and Liskennett.

Of the respondents, 82% agree that forests are important for nature and biodiversity and 74% agree that a mix of trees that include conifers and broadleaves is important for climate action.

The majority (66%) agree that using more Irish wood products in construction is important for helping climate action.

Speaking about the survey, Bernard Burke, regional manager Coillte, said: “Our survey shows that a large majority of people in Ireland agree that forests are important for people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. We are encouraging people to explore their local Coillte forests over the coming months, especially during the festive season, and spend time reconnecting with nature. Limerick has a range of beautiful Coillte forests for people to enjoy, including Curragh Chase Forest Park, Glenstal and Liskennett.”

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The survey findings support Coillte’s forestry strategic vision which aims to deliver multiple benefits from its forests and bring more focus to climate action, with ambitious targets on biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the forest and wood products industry.

The focus of Coillte’s vision is on sustainably balancing and delivering the multiple benefits from Ireland’s state forests across four strategic pillars: climate, wood, nature, and people.

Coillte’s forestry strategic vision, announced last year, is designed to optimise its contribution to Ireland’s climate targets and includes a range of actions aiming to capture approximately 28 million tonnes of CO2 from the environment by 2050.

Coillte aims to enable the creation of approximately 100,000 hectares of new forests by 2050, half of which will be native woodlands, thereby enabling the sinking of 18 million tonnes of CO2 by 2050.

Coillte will manage its existing forest estate to capture an additional 10 million tonnes of CO2 by 2050.