Rewilding and Its Effects on Irish Farming Communities

Anne Hayden
Jan 30, 2025By Anne Hayden

Introduction

Rewilding has become a hot topic in Ireland, hailed by environmentalists as a way to restore nature, tackle climate change, and bring back lost wildlife. But in the heartlands of rural Ireland, where farming is not just a job but a way of life, the idea of rewilding stirs up a mixture of emotions—hope, concern, and, in some cases, resistance.

For farmers who have worked the land for generations, the prospect of giving up fields to forests, reintroducing predators, and reducing livestock numbers is unsettling. But is there a way to balance nature restoration with the needs of those who make their living from the land? Can rewilding and farming exist side by side without one undermining the other? Let’s explore the reality of rewilding in Ireland—its potential benefits, its challenges, and whether it’s something that could genuinely take hold in the coming years.

Beautiful Irish coastline on a sunny day with blue skies near Galway

What is Rewilding, and What Does It Mean for Ireland?

At its core, rewilding is about stepping back and letting nature take the lead. That might mean restoring peatlands to soak up carbon, reintroducing lost species like the golden eagle, or allowing woodlands to reclaim land that was once farmed.

Across Ireland, a number of rewilding projects are already underway:

Peatland Restoration: With 20% of Ireland covered in peat bogs, restoring damaged wetlands is a major focus. Projects like the Abbeyleix Bog Project in Laois show how damaged landscapes can be revived, locking in carbon and providing a home for wildlife.
Reforestation: Native trees like oak, birch, and hazel are being replanted, shifting away from fast-growing, commercially planted sitka spruce forests that dominate much of the country.
Reintroducing Lost Species: Golden eagles and white-tailed sea eagles have been successfully reintroduced, and there’s even talk of bringing back wolves—a suggestion that has met with strong opposition from farming communities.


For environmentalists, these changes are exciting. They see Ireland as a place where vast wild landscapes could flourish again, home to native species that once roamed freely. But for farmers, the reality isn’t so simple.

Way of the Spire and Foliage - Madeira

The Benefits of Rewilding

There’s no doubt that rewilding comes with environmental benefits. Done well, it could help Ireland reach its climate targets, restore wildlife habitats, and even create new economic opportunities.

1. Boosting Biodiversity:

  • Ireland has seen a worrying decline in wildlife due to habitat destruction and intensive farming. Rewilding can help turn this around.

The white-tailed sea eagle, once extinct in Ireland, has made a comeback thanks to reintroduction efforts. In Kerry, Donegal, and Galway, these birds are now breeding successfully.
The pine marten, a small carnivore, has naturally expanded its range again, helping to reduce invasive grey squirrel populations and allowing native red squirrels to thrive.


2. Carbon Sequestration & Climate Change Mitigation: Peatlands store over 300 million tonnes of carbon, but damaged bogs release vast amounts of greenhouse gases. Restoring them could prevent these emissions and help tackle climate change.
Expanding native woodlands could further absorb carbon, particularly if trees are planted in a way that supports existing farmland rather than replacing it entirely.


3. Economic Opportunities Beyond Traditional Farming: Eco-tourism is on the rise, with visitors willing to pay for guided wildlife tours, farm stays, and rewilding retreats.
Sustainable land management practices, such as agroforestry, allow farmers to earn from their land while supporting biodiversity.
But while these benefits are clear, they don’t come without trade-offs, and for many farmers, the risks of rewilding outweigh the rewards.

White-tailed eagle or sea eagle hunting in the sky over Northern Norway

The Challenges of Rewilding for Farmers

1. Losing Productive Farmland:

  • Ireland is a country built on farming, and taking land out of production is a tough sell. The government has ambitious plans to increase tree cover from 11% to 18% by 2027, but much of this reforestation is happening on farmland. For many farmers, reducing their herd or switching to a different way of managing land just isn’t financially viable.

2. Concerns About Predators:

  • While golden eagles and white-tailed eagles have returned, some farmers claim these birds take lambs—leading to ongoing tensions. There’s also speculation about whether predators like wolves or lynxes could be reintroduced, an idea that many rural communities strongly oppose.

3. Financial Uncertainty:

  • Many Irish farmers rely on EU subsidies that support food production. If large areas of farmland were rewilded, what happens to that income? Unlike in countries where large estates dominate, Ireland’s farming is made up of small, family-run farms, where every acre counts.

4. Cultural Resistance:

  • For many, farming is more than just a job—it’s part of their heritage. The idea of letting the land "go wild" can feel like an abandonment of generations of hard work, and some view rewilding as an outside agenda pushed by urban policymakers who don’t understand rural life.
Rural coastal scene, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

What is the Government’s Stance on Rewilding?

Rewilding isn’t yet a fully established government policy, but Ireland is moving in that direction:

  • The EU Nature Restoration Law: which Ireland has supported, sets legally binding targets for restoring habitats, including peatlands and forests.
  • The Afforestation Scheme: provides grants to landowners who convert parts of their land to native woodland.
  • Peatland rehabilitation projects: have received funding, with Bord na Móna shifting away from peat harvesting towards land restoration.

At the European level: the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 commits to restoring at least 30% of land and sea across member states. However, there has been pushback from farming organisations who argue that these policies could damage food production.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has been vocal in its concerns, arguing that policies promoting rewilding must balance environmental goals with food security and rural livelihoods.

Elephant rock in Northern Ireland

How Likely is Large-Scale Rewilding in Ireland?

While rewilding is gaining support in environmental circles and some pilot projects have been successful, large-scale rewilding across Ireland is unlikely in the near future. Here’s why:

  • The Irish government prioritises agriculture as a key economic sector, and while nature restoration is being encouraged, it is unlikely to replace traditional farming.
  • A 2023 European Commission survey found that while 76% of the Irish public supports nature restoration, only 42% of farmers are open to rewilding their own land.
  • Ireland’s land is highly fragmented, making large-scale land buyouts for rewilding impractical.

What is more likely is a hybrid approach—one where farmers are encouraged to adopt nature-friendly practices without completely abandoning farming. This could mean:

  • Silvopasture: (grazing animals among trees).
  • Agroforestry: (combining tree planting with crop production).
  • Incentivising biodiversity corridors: on farmland rather than full rewilding.
Wicklow mountains valley and stream

Conclusion: 

Rewilding is a promising way to restore Ireland’s landscapes, but it cannot come at the expense of farming communities. Instead of framing the issue as a battle between conservation and agriculture, Ireland needs a middle ground—one where rewilding is integrated into working farms in a way that benefits both nature and rural livelihoods.

The future of Ireland’s countryside doesn’t have to be all farmland or all wildland. A balance can be found—one that keeps rural Ireland thriving while allowing nature to return.

What do you think? Should Ireland embrace rewilding, or is the risk too great for farming communities? 


*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.