An appeal has been made not to buy holly from street traders this Christmas unless the buyer can be sure the whole tree has not been destroyed.
Mr Micheal O'Coileain, environmental officer with Kerry County Council, says some street traders regularly fell whole holly trees. Now the tree is in danger of becoming extinct in Kerry.
"Kerry is almost denuded of female holly trees. Around the Conor Pass there are literally no holly trees left. Anywhere the traders can get it, they denude it. It is unusual now to see a red-berry holly tree by the roadside.
"It's a lot easier and quicker for them simply to cut down the whole tree," Mr O'Coileain said.
Although it is against the law to come along and cut down trees by the roadside, or to take them from the national parks, the regulations are rarely enforced.
Coillte is aware of the growing scarcity of holly trees and this year has begun handing out free plants to encourage people to grow their own holly.