The Emerald Isle has long been famed for her lush green fields and dense, magical forests but times have changed and now less than 1% of the island is covered in the forestry needed!

A local Irish Heritage and Ecology expert, and close friend of Emerald Heritage notes:

“Gaelic Ireland had Ancient Tree Laws this protected many of the woodlands however waves of English conquest and forced settlement that followed meant that this legal system’s days were numbered.

“By the 17^th century, the last of the mighty forests of Oak and Elm were being cleared, felled by profiteers and landlords. Within a few decades, Ireland's remaining great forests were raised to the ground. This high-quality timber was one of the largest exports from Ireland. Indeed Irish Oak built many a ship of the British Navy.

“When Ireland lost her cloak of green she lost the source of sustainable building material” and with that came a multitude of problems including the rise of carbon emissions, desolate landscapes, the decline of 42 species of bees by 50% in the last thirty years and the destruction of important natural habitats.”

(courtesy of Emerald Heritage)