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26 Apr 2026
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26 Apr 2026
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PICTURE: Hometree
A sustainable forestry project in county Clare is one of three Irish projects shortlisted for the 2024 EIP-AGRI (European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture) Innovation Awards.
The main objective of the awards is to recognise and reward outstanding EIP-AGRI Operational Groups which have developed innovative practices, solutions, products and processes.
The Illaun Farm-Forest Alliance, based near Miltown Malbay, is among the Irish nominees.
This project has developed an innovative approach to farm forests in Ireland, fostering habitat restoration, improved biodiversity, social engagement and knowledge dissemination.
The project is run by Hometree, a tree-planting charity who work to reintroduce and cultivate native Irish woodlands.
Management on the Illaun site began in 2021 as part of the Illaun Farm Forest EIP (European Innovation Partnership).
The group purchased an old plantation forest in 2020 on a sixteen-acre farm near Miltown Malbay, West Clare. The site consists of two conifer blocks separated by a small ash plantation.
This was a one year project funded through the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine. Through this project we carried out detailed ecological assessments, started replacing a proportion of the existing spruce with native saplings and made changes to increase the biodiversity and ecological condition throughout the site.
Two more Irish projects have been shortlisted for the 2024 EIP-AGRI awards.
BRIDE – Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying Environment, based in Cork and Waterford, addresses farmland biodiversity loss by incentivising farmers to improve habitats through a results-based payment system, rewarding farmers for biodiversity improvements.
Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS), based in Wicklow and the Dublin Mountains, addresses the declining conditions of upland habitats in the Wicklow and Dublin Mountains brought on by the increasing number of farmers moving away from grazing in the area.
For more details about the 2024 EIP-AGRI Innovation Awards for Operational Groups and to cast your vote, visit the EU CAP Network website.
You can vote for your favourite project on the EU CAP Network website until Friday, May 3, 2024.
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