An Post has become the first company to join a new government scheme aimed at planting native woodlands in Ireland.

The Woodland Environmental Fund offer businesses the opportunity to partner with the State and landowners in planting native woodlands around the country.

An Post is investing in a project that saw 25,000 native oak, alder and birch trees planted at a site in county Galway this year.

Minister of State for Forestry Andrew Doyle said the WEF offers businesses a chance to meet their climate, biodiversity and sustainability commitments, while also supporting national objectives.

“The main national objective is of course the planting of some 250 million trees as part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan,” he said.

“The creation of new native woodlands is of growing interest given the rich environmental dividend they deliver.

“I want to congratulate An Post for choosing such a worthwhile project in which to invest.”

File photo of a swan sitting on her nest in the Sunken Oak Forest in St. Fiachra's Garden in the Irish National Stud, County Kildare, 02-06-2003. Image: RollingNews

Ireland currently has the lowest forest cover of any country in the EU at just 11% – aside from Malta which has no natural freshwater.

More than half of the trees in Ireland’s forests are non-native Sitka Spruce which block out sunlight to the forest floor – damaging ecosystems, driving out wildlife and leaving behind ecological 'dead zones.'

Minister Doyle said there is growing interest in the scheme across business sectors – and urged anyone interested to contact the Department.

“Under WEF, businesses can be associated with individual native woodlands and use the environmental benefits linked to these forests to demonstrate their sustainability credentials.

Minister of State Sean Canney said the WEF “couldn’t have picked a better location” for its first forest.

“The WEF is a creative solution that will help address the dual challenges of our time, climate change and falling biodiversity and I would encourage other Irish businesses to consider it,” he said.

The Government is invited businesses to a breakfast briefing event on the fund in Trinity College on the 28th November 2019.