West Cork Trees Project EIP Final Report

The West Cork Trees EIP project supported Carbery Group milk suppliers in addressing biodiversity loss and enhancing the local environment by providing each participating farmer with 50 native trees to plant on their farms. Building on the success of a previous collaboration between Carbery and Southwestern Services (SWS), which resulted in the planting of 45,000 trees, this initiative led to the planting of an additional 60,000 trees across the West Cork region. Trees were distributed in biodegradable bags through local co-operatives in two tranches: November–December 2021 and February–March 2022, ensuring alignment with optimal planting seasons. Farmers were also provided with educational booklets containing planting instructions and information on the environmental benefits of trees. Additionally, tree-planting workshops offered practical guidance and promoted knowledge sharing. The native tree species selected for this project deliver multiple co-benefits. They enhance local biodiversity by creating indigenous wildlife habitats, providing shelter within farmed landscapes, and contributing to climate action—each mature tree can absorb approximately 1 tonne of CO₂. This initiative demonstrates how simple, farmer-led actions can effectively support biodiversity, improve landscapes, and mitigate carbon emissions at a local scale.