Dublin Mountains Makeover (DMM)

The European Green Deal states that the EU’s forested area needs to improve, both in quality and quantity, for the EU to reach climate neutrality and to secure a healthy environment. Furthermore, the Eurobarometer Survey (2019) revealed that the clear-felling of forests is something the youth of Europe no longer want to see. The strategic aim of the DMM is to improve biodiversity, climate resilience and recreation by regenerating high footfall urban forests. Sections with suitable soils are being planted with native trees, and forests will no longer be clear-felled. Instead, Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) techniques underlie the ongoing transition to multi-generational forests, conducted in a manner that minimises disruption to local residents and visitors, while locking in benefits for nature and recreation. The effectiveness of the DMM is underscored by the involvement of wide-ranging stakeholders in its development as the vision for the Coillte estates in the Dublin mountains. These include 1) the Dublin Mountain Initiative (DMI) representing recreational users of the Dublin Mountains including Mountaineering Ireland, Cycling Ireland, the Irish Mountain Running Association and the Irish Orienteering Association, 2) Scouting Ireland, 3) Local Municipalities, and 4) the National Parks and Wildlife Service. These stakeholders came together with Coillte to form the “Dublin Mountains Partnership” which worked to develop a 'shared vision' for forests in the Dublin Mountains.