"AMBITIONS" plans to plant one million trees across Northern Ireland by 2030 have almost reached the halfway mark.
Around 250,000 trees were put in the ground at Woodburn reservoir, Carrickfergus, which doubled the amount of trees planted by NI Water since last summer and made it the biggest woodland creation site in the country for three decades.
More than 450,000 trees are growing across its locations, which can also be found at Stoneyford and Dunore.
Northern Ireland's forestry minister Andrew Muir said: “I am pleased that my department is able to provide grant support of £800,000 under the Forest Expansion Scheme for the establishment of this substantial new native woodland at Woodburn of 139 hectares with over 250,000 trees planted.
"I want to congratulate everyone involved in this fantastic outcome for tree planting in Northern Ireland, thanks to the positive and collaborative approach between NI Water, the Woodland Trust and Forest Service.
“Increasing the area of forests and woodlands is a key challenge and focus for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs [DAERA]."
Infrastructure minister John O’Dowd said: “I want to commend NI Water for reaching the halfway point towards realising its ambitions of planting a million trees on its lands by 2030. This is exactly the type of vision and action that is needed to help reduce our carbon footprint and tackle climate change."
Jo Aston, chair at NI Water said, “This is a great moment – almost half a million trees planted in less than four years.
“Nature in Northern Ireland is in crisis, ranking 12th worst globally for biodiversity loss, making it one of the most nature-depleted places in the world. As Northern Ireland’s second largest landowner, this means NI Water has a big responsibility."
Elsewhere, the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland has welcomed a Private Members Bill submitted by Peter McReynolds MLA at Stormont.
This proposal for a Tree Protection Bill, submitted in July, aims to introduce dedicated legal protection for Northern Ireland’s oldest and most significant trees.
The Bill seeks to strengthen the protection provided through Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), create a new 'Heritage Tree' designation specifically to protect and support Northern Ireland’s oldest and most significant trees, and safeguard these heritage trees – along with ancient and long-established woodland – from permitted developments.
Public affairs manager for the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland, Paul Armstrong, said: "Given that Northern Ireland is one of the least wooded regions in Europe, with under 9 per cent tree cover, and considering we’re facing a climate crisis and widespread biodiversity loss, we welcome this Private Members Bill to protect our most valuable and irreplaceable trees and woods."
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