Wednesday, 15 October 2025
NI Lagging on Tree Planting Targets, Woodland Trust Warns Tree planting in Northern Ireland is progressing too slowly to meet its legally binding targets, putting climate goals, biodiversity, and public wellbeing at risk, according to the Woodland Trust’s latest report on the state of Northern Ireland’s woods and trees. Less Than 20% of 2030 Target […]
Tree planting in Northern Ireland is progressing too slowly to meet its legally binding targets, putting climate goals, biodiversity, and public wellbeing at risk, according to the Woodland Trust’s latest report on the state of Northern Ireland’s woods and trees.
Between 2020 and 2024, only 1,700 hectares of new woodland have been planted, less than 20% of the 9,000-hectare target set for 2030. An additional 500 hectares planted in 2025 still leaves nearly 7,000 hectares to be planted in under five years.
“Northern Ireland very much needs to see tree planting increase,” said John Martin, director of the Woodland Trust NI. “We haven’t met those targets, and at the minute, there is no plan in place to help meet those targets in a way that’s efficient to get to 2030.”
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir acknowledged the shortfall and confirmed that his department will develop a Northern Ireland Tree Planting Action Plan.
“The rate of tree planting and woodland creation needs to increase substantially to deliver tree planting targets, meet afforestation policy objectives and deliver on our climate change commitments,” he said. “We must harness the extensive knowledge and experience of stakeholders to re-energise tree planting efforts and I believe that by working together we can overcome barriers and deliver necessary actions to drive our ambition around woodland creation.”
Muir also stressed the need to both expand woodland coverage and protect existing woodlands, including ancient forests.
Currently, just 8.6% of Northern Ireland’s land area is wooded, significantly lower than:
19% in Scotland
15% in Wales
11% in the Republic of Ireland
10% in England
Ancient woodland, areas with continuous woodland cover for centuries, is now extremely rare, covering just 0.04% of land in Northern Ireland.
“We visit probably some of our ancient woodland sites without even knowing they are ancient,” Martin said. “Some of those trees have been around since the 1600s.”
Woodlands in Northern Ireland face a variety of threats, including:
Pests and diseases, such as ash dieback
Deer overgrazing
Extreme weather events linked to climate change
Pollution damage
Land use is another major challenge. About 75% of Northern Ireland’s land is managed for agriculture, creating limited space for afforestation.
Martin noted that post-Brexit policy uncertainty is also playing a role. Under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, farmers received incentives to plant trees. While some incentives remain, there’s now less clarity and delays in grant payments, he said.
Low urban tree cover, especially in economically deprived areas, is increasingly recognised as an environmental justice issue. Research across the UK shows that communities with fewer trees often:
Experience higher surface temperatures during heatwaves
Have worse air quality
Face greater health inequalities
Ensuring that afforestation efforts prioritise disadvantaged neighbourhoods can help address both climate vulnerability and social inequality.
The Woodland Trust report highlights the uneven distribution of trees, noting that thousands of residents live in “tree poor” areas. Urban Tree Canopy Cover (UTCC) in Northern Ireland averages just over 15%, dropping below 10% in many urban zones, among the lowest rates in the UK.
Martin emphasised that low tree cover has health and wellbeing implications, saying:
“They draw in carbon, they give us shade, they improve water quality, they reduce flood risk. All of those things are really important and by increasing our afforestation, we can increase more of those benefits to wider society.”
The Woodland Trust is calling on the Northern Ireland government to:
Provide stronger legal protection for ancient and long-established trees
Invest in forestry skills
Improve data collection and evidence gathering
Prioritise tree planting in areas of greatest need
Martin summed it up with a proverb that underlines the urgency:
“The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago. The second-best time is today. So we need to get on with this urgently.”
Northern Ireland is facing a critical juncture in its environmental strategy. With less than 20% of its 2030 tree planting target achieved and vast areas remaining “tree poor,” urgent action is needed to reverse the trend. The Woodland Trust’s report makes clear that without a rapid and coordinated increase in afforestation, the region risks falling short on its climate, biodiversity, and public health commitments. Government leadership, stronger protections for ancient woodlands, and a re-energised national effort, supported by communities and stakeholders, will be essential. As the proverb reminds us, the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second-best time is today.
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