IDA Ireland has partnered with the 100 Million Trees Project to create a small dense forest in IDA Business & Technology Park, Athlone.
As part of the initiative which aims to plant 100 million native Irish trees across the island of Ireland by the end of this decade, approximately 40 IDA Ireland staff planted 2,500 native Irish trees and shrubs on an unused plot, under guidance from the 100 Million Trees team.
The initiative follows the “Miyawaki Method” of planting where a small plot of land is densely planted with an excessive number of trees together which then grow considerably faster, denser, are more biodiverse, and create a rapid carbon sink, according to those behind the project.
An additional benefit of dense planting is that the project requires significantly smaller planting areas and can be carried out on unused or fallow land across Ireland.
“The site has been wonderfully prepared with removal of the hardcore, and supplementation of the site with good quality top-soil,” said Catriona Taylor, senior horticulturist with the 100 Million Trees Initiative.
“IDA Ireland is very pleased to support the 100 million trees project in this small but important way,” said Michael Lohan, IDA Ireland’s CEO.
“By actively engaging in this initiative, we can help drive and deliver on the decarbonisation agenda, just as we partner with our client companies across Ireland to do.”
The community-driven initiative has already seen native Irish trees planted in 62 sites across the country, with 161,180 planted since November 2023.
Photo: Mary Norton, Philippa Barry IDA Ireland planting in Athlone Business & Technology Park, encouraging biodiversity and sustainability in the park. Credit Aengus McMahon Photography