A native Irish tree will be planted next year in the name of every household in the State, as part of a project organised by the National Millennium Committee.
Families will be able to identify the location of their tree, obtain a certificate of identification and chart its growth. Most of the trees grown will be native oak, hazel, ash and birch and the whole project will cost £5 million.
It is sponsored by the millennium committee, AIB and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. Speaking at Avondale House, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said it was a "visionary and unique project that will stop the decline of native forests".
The trees will be planted next autumn in the following forests: Ballygannon and Shelton in Co Wicklow, Rosturra and Derrygill in Co Galway; Muckross and Rossacroo in Co Kerry; Derrygorry in Co Monaghan; Lough Gill in Co Sligo; Brackloon in Co Mayo; Portlick in Co Westmeath; Woodlands in Co Kilkenny; Galtee in Co Tipperary and Camolin in Co Wexford.