Amazing results of one man’s mission to reforest a barren Irish hillside
Eoghan Daltun, an Irish pioneer in the rewilding movement, has been working tirelessly the native forests of Ireland, which once covered 80 percent of the country but now for 1 percent.
Standing on a slope in the Beara peninsula in west Cork, Daltun pointed out the environmental degradation that has occurred in the area. The verdant fields, craggy hills, and conifer trees, while picturesque, represent a barren landscape, biologically empty due to the sheep devouring wildflowers and seedlings, and the monoculture plantation of conifers devastating biodiversity.
Over the past 14 years, Daltun has transformed 30 acres of rugged hillside into a showcase of biodiversity and climate action. He has fenced off the land to keep out non-native animals, eradicated invasive alien plants, and allowed nature to take its course. The result has been a flourishing of wildflowers and tree seedlings, and the establishment of a forest canopy that supports a variety of insects and native mammals.
Daltun’s efforts are part of a global initiative to rewild gardens, estates, and countryside to halt catastrophic biodiversity losses. Despite Ireland’s pastoral reputation, it is one of the EU’s worst carbon emission offenders and has struggled to protect ancient bogs and contain invasive species. While the country has increased its forest cover to 11 percent, most of it is made up of monoculture plantations, which are considered dead zones.
Rewilding initiatives are gaining traction in Ireland. Trinity College Dublin replaced manicured lawns with native Irish wildflowers, and Randal Plunkett, an estate owner in County Me, replaced livestock and crops with wilderness. The Health Service Executive is also considering rewilding the of its headquarters.
Daltun, who sold his home in Dublin in 2009 to buy a patch of the Beara peninsula, has been a vocal advocate for rewilding. He believes that protecting the remaining natural habitats is crucial, and his efforts have been well-received by the public. His book, ‘An Irish Atlantic Rainforest: a Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding’, has won international acclaim and has helped to raise awareness about the importance of rewilding.
However, Daltun acknowledges that significant action will require subsidies, community consultation, and popular support. He emphasizes that ecological and social justice must go hand in hand, and that rewilding should not be seen as a hobby for the wealthy, but as a necessary step towards preserving biodiversity and combating climate change.
* This piece is an edited version of a longer piece published originally by The Guardian on July 4, 2023.