Setting the scene
Just Forests is a small voluntary social enterprise based in the Midlands of Ireland. Founded in 1989 by a local furniture maker. We operate without any funding whatsoever. If you would like to support Just Forests with a small donation to offset costs you can do so by getting in touch with Tom.
For over three decades I have worked to help keep tribal people in their forests – their homes. We do this through development education (DE) and policy as well as our SpoArts Project (you can read our original PR of December 2020 here) and our ongoing support for the FREE Donziger Campaign and in particular to create awareness of the great work of US Human Rights Lawyer Steven Donziger.
Today I am fighting an Irish Bank – PTSB and their Vulture Partner – Mars Capital Finance Ireland DAC for the right to stay in my home. I also help other distressed mortgage holders in Ireland exercise their right to stay in their home.
“EVERY SECOND of every day, an area of boreal, temperate & tropical forests the size of two CROKE PARK PITCHES is logged in our pursuit of imported timber for housing, joinery, flooring, furniture, public seating, walkways, lock gates, ‘tonewoods’ for our beautiful musical instruments and for cheap “throw away” Chinese plywood used in hoardings.
THAT’S 172,800 Croke Park pitches of forests PER DAY, or over 62 MILLION Croke Park pitches of forests lost EACH YEAR.” Tom Roche
The Irish Government’s neoliberal agenda supports family home possession by Banks and Vulture Funds in Ireland. The same neoliberal agenda drives forest destruction which in turn drives indigeneous and tribal communities – the custodians of the world’s forests from their homes.
Just Forests uses societies dependance on natural resources such as wood, water, air as “hooks” to advance nature conservation and to support people to take a ‘livelihood’ approach and change attitudes for a sustainable and just world.
We must pass on an abundant and livable planet to the next generation – just as previous generations did for us.
FEATURED POST
Press Statement
Tuesday 3 February 2026 Just Forests, Rhode, Co. Offaly For Immediate Release Anti vulture funds activist and human rights defender, Tom Roche, is calling on former Minister for Finance Michael Noonan to apologise to Ireland’s distressed mortgage holders for his part...
Does Ireland have a vulture culture?
Open letter to Michael Noonan 30 January 2026 Dear Mr Noonan, I am writing to express my deep anger and disappointment at your role in facilitating the entry of so-called “vulture funds” into Ireland, and at the devastating consequences this decision has had for...
Get Texaco out of schools
New York Attorney and human rights defender Steven Donziger (pictured above saying goodbye to his only child Matthew before being imprisoned by corrupt Texaco/Chevron Lawyers/Judge) spent 900 days in prison/house arrest, for winning a "landmark" pollution case against...
Call for US Ambassador to Ireland to intervene
Photo: Edward S. Walsh was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. After Senate confirmation, he was sworn in by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office of the White House on June 19, 2025. Ambassador Walsh presented...
What’s in a word?
The word ‘race’ is used throughout this website to refer to us - the ‘human race’ as a species. The word race also implies urgency or speed at which we must act. Race – is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally...
Putting the AWE back in AWESOME
Work on a new publication is under development. The purpose of which is to remind the human race of our dependance on nature for life. Sounds good huh? Why do we need such a reminder? What are we doing that prompts us to stand back and look the other way when our AWE;...