“That the Chief Executive provides a detailed report from the various Council Departments on the 2024 plans to access the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Afforestation funding to achieve Nature Based Solutions to climate change, as well as meeting targets in the Forest of Fingal Policy, in particular, are there any ongoing efforts to follow up on DAFM schemes FT3 – Forest Creation on Public Lands and FT4 – NeighbourWoods.”

Motion: Councillor J. Newman Report on Funding streams to tackle Climate Change

Proposed: Cllr Newman

Seconded: Cllr Healy

“That the Chief Executive provides a detailed report from the various Council Departments on the 2024 plans to access the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Afforestation funding to achieve Nature Based Solutions to climate change, as well as meeting targets in the Forest of Fingal Policy, in particular, are there any ongoing efforts to follow up on DAFM schemes FT3 – Forest Creation on Public Lands and FT4 – NeighbourWoods.”

Report:

During 2024 the Council is planning to plant 11 Hectares (Approximately 27.2 Acres) of new woodland at Nevitt, an area of land in Council ownership south of Balbriggan. This involves planting in excess of 20,000 mainly native trees in line with Action Ref: N9 of the Fingal Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 which states: “Initiate a programme of targeted Strategic Annual Tree Planting including identifying and mapping priority locations, to include sites suitable for woodland creation. Reviewed in an annual works programme, presenting what is planned for the coming year. Taking advantage of government funding programmes such as the New Woodland Creation Scheme on Public Lands”. This initiative is also in line with the actions in the Fingal Biodiversity Acton Plan recommending increased tree cover in the County and with Action3.1 of “Forest of Fingal – A Tree Strategy for Fingal” which states: “Initiate a programme of targeted Strategic Annual Tree Planting including identifying and mapping priority locations, to include sites suitable for woodland creation. Reviewed in an annual works programme, presenting what is planned for the coming year. Taking advantage of government funding programmes such as the New Woodland Creation Scheme on Public Lands”. Additional extensive planting is planned for the Nevitt site along with strategically located afforestation projects at other locations including Rogerstown Park / Firmer Balleally Landfill, Ward River Valley Park, Tolka Valley Park, Dunsink former landfill and Bremore Regional Park, Balbriggan. The Council will pursue available public funding for these planting initiatives as appropriate.

Hans Visser read the report to Members and a discussion took place.

Report: Noted