FODC_Inform News_Winter 2022

14 in-FO in Fermanagh & Omagh | Winter 2022 Making a ‘Tree-mendous’ effort for National Tree Week Taking action for your environment For more information, visit our website: www.fermanaghomagh.com/services/parks-and-open-spaces/biodiversity/ i National Tree Week took place from 26 November to 04 December 2022 and we hope some of you got involved in tree planting activities to help increase woodland cover in our District and across Northern Ireland. Woodland cover in Northern Ireland is currently 8.7%, making it one of the least wooded regions in Europe. In addition, around 60% of the cover is non-native conifer plantations, which do not support as much biodiversity as our own native trees, such as oak, birch and hazel. Woodland cover is important to help support biodiversity, capture carbon dioxide to help to combat climate change, and stabilise the soil to prevent erosion and protect our groundwater resources. However, it is important to remember to plant the right tree in the right place ! During National Tree Week, our Biodiversity Team partnered with the Woodland Trust to plant native, broadleaved trees on Council estate. The Team also hosted several tree planting events with local communities and volunteers in our Parks. Schools and community groups can get involved by applying to the Woodland Trust for free trees. Applications for delivery in March 2023 are expected to close in mid-December, depending on stock availability. In addition, have a look at the grants offered by the Tree Council, who provide the Branching Out Fund and Orchards for Schools! www.treecouncil.org.uk/what-we-do /planting-and-care/our-grants/ If you are a landowner , you can also apply to the MOREwoods Scheme through the Woodland Trust, which is open to anyone planting over 0.5 hectares of trees. For more information and to apply for any of the funding opportunities, visit: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees These tree planting initiatives and activities support the Trees and Woodland theme in our new Biodiversity Strategy 2022-2027 and Action Plan which was launched in July 2022. The Biodiversity Strategy acknowledges the global biodiversity crisis and sets out the Council’s proposed commitments and practical steps the Council can take to restore biodiversity locally. Through the Strategy, we aim to promote and preserve local biodiversity, implement best practice, deliver against legislative requirements and move towards the UN’s shared vision of ‘Living in harmony with nature by 2050’. Seven Biodiversity Strategy Themes