Ireland
AGROFORESTRY ASSOCIATIONS in IRELAND
The Irish Agroforestry Forum was established in March 2021. It represents Irish interests at the European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF) and brings the benefits from EURAF members’ experiences to practitioners in Ireland. The forum currently has 190 members. IAF sees a dynamic role for trees on farms (which can incorporate timber production), but also biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water cycle quality, and security and animal welfare. Using trees in an agroforestry context allows for increased farm incomes from fruit and nut trees as well as speciality quality timber production options:
- Trees for fodder and browse
- Trees for coppice
- Trees for timber, fruit, nuts, or long-standing trees
- The use of fast-growing trees like poplar and willow for water filtration
- Pioneer trees for “nursing” long-standing trees
- Shelterbelts
- Short rotation coppice and pollards
- Trees for creating and linking habitats
- Riparian woodland for protection and enhancement of water quality.
Since 2021, the Irish Agroforestry Forum (IAF) has been actively supporting the development and uptake of agroforestry across Ireland through policy engagement, farmer-to-farmer learning, training, and collaboration at national and European level.
A major focus during this period has been practical knowledge exchange. The Forum organised a wide programme of farm walks, field visits and demonstration events on working farms, showcasing silvopastoral, silvoarable, organic and horticultural agroforestry systems. These events brought together farmers, advisors, researchers and policymakers to share real-world experience on tree establishment, management and integration of trees into productive farming systems. National conferences and themed events further supported peer-to-peer learning and cross-sector dialogue.
The IAF also delivered a strong programme of education and training, including online webinars and in-person sessions covering topics such as organic agroforestry, forest gardens, medicinal and productive trees, timber quality and horticultural systems. A range of practical resources was developed and shared, including factsheets, booklets, videos and online learning materials, alongside preparation for dedicated agroforestry training for agricultural advisors.
Policy engagement has remained central to the Forum’s work. Over this period, the IAF engaged regularly with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and other stakeholders to reduce barriers to agroforestry adoption and improve scheme design. This included advocating for greater flexibility in agroforestry layouts, recognition of ecosystem services beyond timber production, and improved compatibility between agroforestry and farm payment schemes. Key outcomes included increased eligibility of land with trees for farm payments such as organic supports, improved agroforestry premiums, the inclusion of tree-planting options within agri-environment schemes, and continued support for retaining agricultural payments alongside agroforestry establishment.
The Forum also supported the growing agroforestry community in Ireland by facilitating networking, collaboration and information sharing among farmers, researchers, foresters and advisors. Membership of the national network continued to expand, reflecting rising interest in agroforestry as a practical response to climate, biodiversity and farm resilience challenges. The IAF promoted on-farm research and innovation, shared findings from tree guard trials and demonstration sites, and highlighted priority areas for further research.
Collaboration has been a consistent feature of the Forum’s work. The IAF worked closely with environmental organisations, farmer networks, research institutions, advisory bodies and forestry organisations across Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as participating actively in European agroforestry exchange through EURAF. These partnerships supported joint projects, policy dialogue and the sharing of experience between countries.
Through this combination of practical demonstration, education, policy engagement and collaboration, the Irish Agroforestry Forum has continued to strengthen agroforestry practice in Ireland and contribute to wider European efforts to promote resilient, productive and multifunctional farming systems.
RELEVANT IRISH AGROFORESTRY WEBSITES
