IVERAGH EIP PROJECT
The Iveragh Woodlands European Innovation Partnership (EIP) aims to enhance the ecological and socioeconomic resilience of upland farms in the west of Ireland through active conservation, restoration and sustainable management of native woodlands.
The EIP team will work to find opportunities to restore woodlands in the uplands of the Iveragh Peninsula by addressing a gap in policy in regard to their creation, with successful models being integrated into wider agri-environmental programmes. They will also find opportunities for payments to farmers and landowners for their participation.
Why Woodlands Matter
Native woodlands in the Iveragh uplands are rare remnants of Ireland’s ancient forests. They play a vital role in:
Protecting soil and water – stabilising slopes and reducing flood risk.
Sheltering livestock – improving animal welfare in exposed uplands.
Storing carbon – supporting Ireland’s climate goals.
Supporting biodiversity – home to birds, invertebrates, ferns, mosses, and lichens.
Preserving culture – trees have deep roots in the stories and traditions of Kerry’s people.
However, pressures from overgrazing, invasive species, and policy barriers have left many woodlands in decline. The EIP aims to reverse this trend by combining local knowledge with modern ecological practice.
Why Iveragh’s Woodlands are so unique
The Iveragh peninsula is situated within the temperate rainforest zone, providing optimal conditions for many oceanic and hyper-oceanic temperate rainforest species unique to western Europe. The peninsula also holds a large percentage of Ireland’s remaining Annex I oak woodlands. Overgrazed and highly fragmented, these woodland fragments provide a refugia for many rare woodland species and wild tree genetics.
How the Project Works
There will be an open call for landowners to express interest. Each participating farmer co-develops a farm woodland plan with ecologists and advisors. Actions are practical, low-impact, and tailored to each farm.
Core Actions:
Protect & Restore existing native woodlands.
Encourage Natural Regeneration in suitable areas.
Manage Grazing & Deer Pressure through collaborative plans.
Control Invasive Species such as rhododendron.
Enhance Biodiversity using local seed sources for enrichment planting.
Build Skills & Capacity through training and community workshops.
Restoration Strategies
The project will prioritise natural regeneration wherever possible. Where seed sources are available, nature will do the work. Where seed sources are absent or degraded, judicious planting will occur using local provenance stock grown in collaboration with nurseries across Iveragh.
The project will also experiment with returning woodland flora and fungi, as well as rare or lost species such as aspen and juniper. Enrichment planting will focus on restoring full ecological function, not just tree cover.
Wild Herbivore Strategy
Over-abundant deer threaten woodland recovery. The project introduces a community-led, science-based deer management programme including:
Camera-trap surveys and population tracking
Training for licensed hunters
Check-in stations for data and sample collection
Safe, humane and coordinated culling practices
Farmer Participation and Payments
The project provides financial incentives and practical support to participating landowners. A results-based methodology will be developed or adapted to assess the health and trajectory of woodland recovery, including indicators such as regeneration, species composition, and invasive control.
Payment Type Description Rate / Amount
Initiation Payment Once-off joining payment to develop a farm plan. €166/ha (avg. €2,490 per farm)
Results-Based Payment Annual reward based on woodland health and regeneration. ~€200/ha per year
Action-Based Payment Additional payment for approved restoration actions. €200/ha
Capital Support Materials and labour for fencing, planting, signage. Allocated per plan
Payments are designed to stack with ACRES CP, NWS, NWCS, or Agroforestry, ensuring no loss of existing scheme income.
Community, Culture, and the Future
The Iveragh Woodlands EIP is about more than trees, it’s about people, place, and pride in the landscape.
Community Activities:
Guided walks, farm visits, and local events
Storytelling and ‘deep mapping’ of woodland heritage
Local seed collection and nursery development
Exploration of economic opportunities (wild game, wood fuel, eco-tourism)
Project Outcomes:
300 ha of upland woodland improved or restored
Increased farm income and resilience
Enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem services
Core Team
Anna Power, Project Manager, Financial & Legal oversight
Rob Fell, Local Project Coordinator, OG Secretary, Community Engagement
Patrick Gleeson, Project Ecologist
Ray Ó Foghlú, Project Lead and OG Chair