Agroforestry presents a unique opportunity for farmers to seamlessly integrate trees into their agricultural practices, as highlighted by Marina Conway, the newly appointed head of woodlands and land partnerships at Hometree, a nature restoration charity. With a focus on addressing the low uptake of agroforestry schemes, Conway, a 2025 Nuffield scholar, plans to explore successful international models of agroforestry systems. One of the key barriers in Ireland, according to Conway, is the absence of a clear forest land definition for agroforestry. She questions the necessity of persisting along this path and advocates for exploring alternative approaches.
Having previously served as the CEO of Western Forestry Co-operative, Conway brings a wealth of experience in promoting community-led forestry initiatives and sustainable practices founded on collaboration and innovation. Hailing from Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, she boasts over two decades of expertise in forestry, sustainable land management, and climate change policy. Conway’s knowledge spans from woodland establishment, conservation, and management to regulatory frameworks and forest policy, with a strong history of advocating for farmer-led and community-owned woodlands. This background aligns seamlessly with Hometree’s mission to restore and expand Ireland’s native woodlands, as noted by Matthew Smith, CEO of Hometree.
Conway’s future plans involve collaborating with Hometree to facilitate the restoration and expansion of native woodlands along the west coast of Ireland. She aims to contribute to the re-establishment of temperate rainforests where feasible and safeguard the remaining small woodland remnants. Leading Hometree’s endeavors to revive ancient and well-established woodlands along the west coast, Conway will work closely with landowners, communities, and policymakers. Smith emphasized her role in spearheading large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects and enhancing funding mechanisms to support nature restoration efforts on a significant scale. Conway’s profound understanding of forestry, coupled with her dedication to community-led conservation, will play a crucial role in advancing Hometree’s vision of creating resilient ecosystems for future generations.
In particular, Conway will play a pivotal role in supporting the team involved in the Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project, Hometree’s flagship initiative. With recent achievements in securing multi-annual funding, acquiring new sites, and appointing Imelda Connelly, former Greenbelt CEO, as the finance officer, Hometree is clearly in a phase of significant growth and expansion. The organization’s commitment to nature restoration and sustainable woodland management is underscored by the strategic appointments and ambitious projects on the horizon.
