Pockets of western Ireland’s thick woodlands persist, especially in harder-to-reach places like in deep valleys. Photo Credit: Ray Ó Foghlú
Environment IrelandRestoring a Long-Gone Ecosystem
A group of surfers are on a mission to restore thousands of acres of woodlands in Ireland.
Their project was created in response to the current climate crisis. “We’re going for it as if it was an emergency. We’re just responding with what I believe is a realistic response based on the meaning of the word ’emergency,'” explains the co-founder of the non-profit Hometree and former pro surfer, Matt Smith.
Nearly ten centuries ago, native woodlands thrived in Ireland’s Maumturk Mountains. Today, few trees remain. Hometree is working on purchasing plots of land in the area and restoring them with native trees, ideally inspiring a much broader reforestation project within the country. The nonprofit hopes to raise at least $13 million to fund its 4,000-acre goal. They are also encouraging everyone from local farmers to the Irish Government to get involved with the restoration and protection of these long-gone woodlands.
