October 21st 2023 marked the beginning of a series of engagements with the public on the Connemara Community Native Woodland project and the Irish hardwood timber processing centre at ATU Connemara. Dr Dermot O’Donovan and Dr Sean Garvey delivered a talk on the importance of native woodlands in terms of biodiversity and climate action. They also explored the potential role of native forestry from a socio-economic perspective. This was followed by a tour of the Irish hardwood timber processing centre. The event helped to raise the profile of the work being undertaken by ATU in this area and provided a starting point to create new connections with community and stakeholder groups in the region.
