Native Woodland Restoration
Reweaving the Woodland Tapestry
Ireland’s forest cover has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in Europe. From a post-glacial peak of nearly 80% forested land, the country now retains just 11% forest cover—far below the European average of 32%. Of this, only around 1.5% consists of native broadleaf woodland. Even more concerning, ancient native forests—those that have developed without major disturbance over centuries—account for less than 1% of the land area. The remainder is dominated by monoculture plantations of non-native conifer species such as Sitka spruce, which offer little in the way of biodiversity, soil stability, or long-term carbon storage.
This loss of native woodland has profound implications. It limits Ireland’s capacity to capture and store carbon, weakens the resilience of upland ecosystems, and contributes to the ongoing decline of native flora and fauna. It also leaves our landscapes more vulnerable to soil erosion, flash flooding, and drought.
A joint report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council warns that without decisive domestic action, Ireland could face carbon offset payments of approximately €30 Billon to meet its international climate obligations. By investing in our woodland restoration, Luggala will help to decrease Ireland’s overall carbon emissions, contributing to Ireland’s agreed climate objectives for climate, biodiversity, and water quality, thereby reducing these costly fines for the country and its people. We are doing our part for improved climate stability as well as for Ireland itself, and, through our actions, hope to inspire others to do the same.
Investing in woodland restoration is not only an ecological imperative but also an economic one.
Why It Matters
Restoring native woodlands delivers long-lasting benefits across multiple environmental and social dimensions:
Biodiversity hotspots: Native woodlands support a wide range of species, including lichens, mosses, fungi, woodland insects, and birds. These habitats are particularly important for rare or declining species that cannot survive in plantation forests.
Carbon sequestration: Broadleaf woodlands store carbon not only in their trees but in deep organic soils, which can remain stable for centuries. In contrast to commercial plantations, native woodlands offer greater long-term carbon security.
Soil health and erosion control: Native trees improve soil structure, reduce surface runoff, and stabilise steep upland slopes—especially important in degraded catchments like the Wicklow uplands.
Water regulation: Woodlands play a vital role in maintaining water quality. They slow runoff, filter nutrients, recharge groundwater, and reduce the sediment load entering rivers and streams.
Climate adaptation: Mixed-age, native woodlands are more resilient to extreme weather events, pests, and disease than monocultures. Their diversity and structure help buffer landscapes against climate instability.
Luggala’s Strategy
At Luggala, our goal is to restore native woodland cover across appropriate areas of the estate, building on the historical ecology of the site and the specific needs of the upland landscape.
Restoring native canopy: We are phasing out non-native conifer plantations and encouraging the natural regeneration and active planting of native trees such as silver birch (Betula pubescens), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), holly (Ilex aquifolium), hazel (Corylus avellana), and sessile oak (Quercus petraea). These species are well-adapted to Ireland’s acidic soils and are historically part of the region’s woodland character.
Protecting and enhancing existing woodland: We manage threats like invasive plant species (e.g., rhododendron and bracken), reduce grazing pressure from deer and sheep, and use gap-planting to introduce structural diversity. This helps promote a layered woodland with a healthy understorey and canopy continuity.
Creating ecological corridors: Connectivity is key to a functioning ecosystem. We are working to connect fragmented woodlands to adjacent peatland, grassland, and river habitats to support wildlife movement and allow woodland-associated species to spread across the landscape.
Impact
Over time, these efforts will lead to the establishment of complex woodland systems rich in biodiversity. We expect to see increased populations of woodland specialists, from bats and small mammals to rare bryophytes and fungi. Deeper soils and intact root systems will stabilise slopes, reduce erosion, and trap carbon. Litter layers and decaying wood will support invertebrate diversity and improve nutrient cycling.
Importantly, woodland restoration at Luggala contributes to a broader national goal—rebuilding Ireland’s native forest networks to create resilient, climate-ready landscapes. By doing this work locally, we reduce the need for carbon offsetting abroad and invest in ecological recovery at home.
Restoring native woodland is not simply about planting trees; it is about repairing the deep ecological memory of the land and allowing natural processes to return. As these forests mature, they will once again become places of shelter, richness, and resilience—for nature and for future generations.
References:
O’Hagan Luff, M. “Ireland has lost almost all of its native forests…” The Conversation (2023)
The Journal – “A ‘disappointingly low’ 1 per cent of Ireland is natural, native forest” (Oct 2024)
Teagasc – Ireland’s Forests & Woodland Statistics (2023)
The Guardian – “The last fragments of ancient Irish rainforests may face a new threat” (Feb 2025)