Minister Hackett to address High Level Policy Dialogue on Agroforestry at 26th session of the FAO UN Committee on Forestry

“Agroforestry has the potential to help restore over one billion hectares of degraded agricultural land worldwide”.

“In Ireland, we are determined to see forest cover grow and we are determined to ensure that Agroforestry is integral to that growth. Agroforestry is an important bridge between forestry and agriculture. Our forestry programme offers several potential opportunities to develop Agroforestry”.

“As part of our ambition to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030 and ultimately reach net zero by 2050, we wish to encourage a significant increase in tree planting, and particularly on farms, given that two thirds of our land is private farmland”.

“Ireland has a budget of €1.3 billion behind the new Forestry Programme, and this record funding commitment is a strong message of support from national Government for all types of tree planting. It also gives certainty to farmers in the years ahead”.

“We are supporting farmers to establish silvopastoral systems which combine forestry and pasture, including grazing and the growing of fodder, as well as pilot schemes for both silvoarable and forest gardening systems. Agroforestry is now eligible for payments under our Organic Farming Scheme too”,

“I look forward to a fruitful and engaging meeting”.