Coillte Aims To Create 100,000 Hectares Of Woodland By 2050

Thursday, 21 April 2022 14:43

By Caoimhe Harney

It also hopes to create 1,200 new jobs.

Ireland’s forest management company hopes to create 100,000 hectares of new woodlands across by 2050.

Semi state body Coillte has launched a strategic vision for the future, it is hoping to capture 28 million tonnes of C02 emissions in that time.

It also hopes to create 1,200 jobs, build more wind farms, increase timber production for homes and offer additional recreation opportunities.

This vision for the future of Ireland’s woodlands hopes to create new forests, new jobs, increase the number of timber frame homes we’re building and build more wind farms for renewable energy.

For context, the 28 million tonnes of C02 figure is about half of Ireland’s emissions from 2020.

Coillte CEO Imelda Hurley says these plans, should they come to pass, will mean a recruitment drive.

The company aims to finance its ambitions with private investment and state support along with using its own funds.

It also expects it will be able to power 500,000 extra homes with wind energy too.

Coillte is opening a public consultation on these plans in mid May.

Managing Director for Forestry Mark Carlin says the recruitment drive will be a challenge:

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