In March 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) launched the Forests for our Future programme, which set out to plant 18 million trees and create 9,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030. 

However, at the halfway point of the scheme, just 2,016 ha of new woodland have been established,  2,484 ha short of where Northern Ireland should be at this stage. 

Despite the country making steady progress in recent years – the 2024/25 planting saw 500 ha of new woodland created, the second highest total since 2020 – both Confor and the Woodland Trust have called on the Northern Irish government to do more. 

James Hamilton Stubber, chair, Northern Ireland division of Confor said: “Confor and its members in Northern Ireland fully support the Future for Our Forests programme and are dismayed by the lack of progress so far.

“As we struggle with the competing demands emanating from our efforts to meet climate change targets, any new Forestry Strategy has to be integral with an overarching land use policy.

“The ability of trees and forests to decarbonise our environment has for far too long been greatly underestimated.

“Forests are vital not only as the lungs for our world but they also provide people with livelihoods as well as supplying valuable products to be used in our economy.”

Since the programme’s launch, the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland has supported the creation of 524 ha of new woodland, accounting for 26 per cent of the total delivered to date under the Forests for our Future programme.

The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland and Confor are now calling on the DAERA Minister and the Northern Ireland Forest Service to recommit to the Forests for our Future programme by:

  • allocating appropriate levels of multi-year funding to support woodland creation
  • avoiding delays in the grant process by ensuring timely announcements of application windows and issuing letters of offer ahead of the planting season (November–March)
  • strengthening engagement with the sector to improve delivery and collaboration
  • bringing forward a new forestry strategy action plan to deliver forestry creation and management commitments to align with nature and climate targets.

John Martin, director, Woodland Trust Northern Ireland said: “Every tree planted is a legacy of hope, resilience, and renewal for generations to come. Now is the time to reinvigorate our collective commitment to woodland creation and management in Northern Ireland.” 

Forestry Journal has contacted DAERA for comment.