Afforestation levels down 63% while Cork and Kerry have the highest areas nationally

Warning that the importation of logs and finished timber from Scotland is not sustainable

There is a huge demand for Scottish timber and it is therefore not sustainable to continue importing it into Ireland. Picture: iStock. 

Afforestation levels are down 63% in Ireland since 2016 and according to the Forestry Statistics Report 2021 which has been published by the Department of Agriculture, just 2,434ha of new forests were created in 2020.

Counties Cork and Kerry emerged with the highest afforestation area in the country at 293ha and 289ha respectively.