How Rewilding Could Restore Ireland’s Lost Forests and Biodiversity

Ireland is often celebrated for its lush green landscapes, earning it the nickname “The Emerald Isle.” However, beneath its scenic pastures and rolling hills lies a harsh ecological truth: Ireland’s environment is far from thriving. Over the years, human activity, industrialized farming, and deforestation have left much of the country’s land ecologically barren. Eoghan Daltun, a sculptor and advocate for rewilding, is working to change that narrative, urging the country to rethink how it views and manages its natural spaces.

The Reality Behind the “Emerald Isle” Myth

While Ireland is famous for its green countryside, Daltun emphasizes that appearances can be deceiving. In reality, the lush fields and hedgerows are often monocultures—landscapes dominated by a single species, usually grass, which supports grazing livestock but very little else in terms of biodiversity. According to a 2023 report by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland’s environmental health was rated “poor.” Historically, about 80% of Ireland was covered in forests, but today, only 11% of the country remains forested, and much of that is made up of nonnative species, such as the Sitka spruce. This stark contrast paints a bleak picture for Ireland’s biodiversity.

The Problem with Ireland’s Modern Farming Practices

The primary culprit for this ecological degradation is Ireland’s modern farming industry. Most of the country’s land is dedicated to industrial farming, particularly for dairy and beef production, which yields high economic returns but comes at a steep environmental cost. This model has led to the destruction of natural ecosystems that once flourished across the Irish landscape.

Daltun explains that these monoculture grasslands are “biological deserts,” offering little to no support for native wildlife. Overgrazing by cattle and sheep has decimated native vegetation, making it almost impossible for forests and wild ecosystems to regenerate naturally.

Historical Context: Colonialism and Ecological Decline

Ireland’s ecological troubles date back centuries, with a long history of deforestation and environmental mismanagement. While some blame can be placed on the colonial past, with English colonists viewing Ireland’s forests, bogs, and wildlife as something to conquer and suppress, Daltun argues that this is no longer a valid excuse. Ireland has been independent for over 100 years, and yet, its environmental health has continued to worsen. He highlights that it’s time for Ireland to take responsibility for its ecological degradation.

Rewilding: A Solution for Ireland’s Ecological Crisis

Daltun, who has successfully rewilded his own 73-acre property in the Beara Peninsula, believes that rewilding could be the key to reversing Ireland’s ecological decline. Rewilding refers to the process of restoring natural ecosystems by reducing human intervention and allowing nature to recover on its own. In Daltun’s case, this involved fencing off his land to prevent overgrazing by deer and goats, as well as removing nonnative plant species that outcompeted native flora.

His efforts are documented in his 2022 book, *An Irish Atlantic Rainforest*, and his more recent publication, *The Magic of an Irish Rainforest*, which showcases rare, surviving pockets of wild nature in Ireland. These works underscore the potential of rewilding to not only restore forests but also to regenerate biodiversity in areas that have been neglected for decades.

The Urgent Need for National Action

Daltun advocates for rewilding to be implemented on a national scale. He suggests that farmers, who currently receive subsidies for grazing livestock, should be offered financial incentives to rewild portions of their land. This would provide a more sustainable income for farmers, especially in regions like Beara, where sheep farming is barely profitable even with subsidies.

He argues that Ireland must reconsider its relationship with nature, recognizing that the health of natural ecosystems is inextricably linked to the survival of farming—and indeed civilization as a whole. Climate change and ecological breakdown are already starting to disrupt agriculture, and if Ireland continues down its current path of environmental degradation, the consequences could be dire for the country’s food security and economy.

The Case of Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park, Ireland’s largest and most significant remaining native forest, serves as a microcosm of the country’s broader environmental issues. The park is home to some of Ireland’s last native tree species, but invasive species like the Sika deer are causing severe damage. Overgrazing prevents native trees from regenerating, leading to the slow degradation of what little natural forest remains. According to Daltun, authorities have failed to address this issue, and unless action is taken soon, even these last remnants of native Irish forests could be lost.

The Path Forward: A Call for Change

Rewilding offers a path forward, not just for individual landowners like Daltun but for the entire country. By restoring natural ecosystems, Ireland could not only revive its forests but also enhance its biodiversity, create new habitats for wildlife, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

However, for this vision to become a reality, Daltun emphasizes the need for greater public awareness. Most people in Ireland don’t realize the extent of the ecological damage because there are so few examples of wild, functioning ecosystems left. Through advocacy, education, and policy changes, he hopes to inspire a nationwide movement toward rewilding and a more sustainable future for the Emerald Isle.
The vision that Eoghan Daltun has for Ireland—a country where wild nature is given space to flourish alongside human activity—represents a shift in how we view our relationship with the environment. Ireland’s ecological crisis may be severe, but with rewilding and a renewed commitment to preserving nature, it’s not too late to restore the Emerald Isle to its former ecological glory.