People’s Peace Forest established as Ireland’s response to UNs Peace Forest Initiative

A new organisation - The People’s Peace Forest - has been formally established to serve as Ireland’s response to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Peace Forest Initiative, following an exploratory meeting held on Wednesday, June 25 at the Monaghan Peace Campus, an appropriate setting as it is an institution that promotes peace, reconciliation, and community engagement.

The gathering was attended by Mr. Utchang Kang, lead for the Peace Forest Initiative at the headquarters of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Bonn, Germany. The attendees were formally welcomed to Co. Monaghan by Cathaoirleach Cllr. P.J. O’Hanlon.

The initiative was brought to Ireland by Rev. David Latimer, who helped secure Derry’s designation as an International City of Peace on 21 September 2023 (UN International Day of Peace), and Irish author and campaigner Don Mullan, who has long worked at the intersection of reconciliation, peacebuilding, and environmental advocacy.

Inspired by the UNCCD’s Peace Forest Initiative, the People’s Peace Forest aims to promote peace and ecological restoration across the island of Ireland, with an initial focus on urban forestry, youth engagement, and cross-community, cross-border collaboration in Ulster.

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The meeting brought together representatives from the UNCCD, Monaghan County Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, The Woodland Trust (UK), The Tree Council of Ireland, and Hometree.ie.

“The Peace Forest Initiative is about more than planting trees—it is about planting hope, healing, and solidarity in places where they are most needed,” said Mr. Utchang Kang. “Ireland’s vision for the People’s Peace Forest stands as a powerful example of how environmental restoration can also be a pathway to peace.”

Ongoing meetings are planned over the coming months to further explore Ireland’s all-island contribution to this global initiative, spearheaded by the UNCCD. A formal launch of the People's Peace Forest is being considered for October 2025, with events proposed for Derry and Monaghan.