Farmer planting accounted for nearly 50% of afforestation in 2023

The 2023 afforested area is only 24% of the 2007 figure, when the afforested area was up to 6,947 hectares.

The area planted by farmers accounted for 47% of the total afforested area in 2023, new CSO figures released on Tuesday show.

The area afforested in 2023 was 1,651 hectares, a 27% decrease from the 2,273 hectares afforested in 2022.

The 2023 afforested area is only 24% of the 2007 figure, when the afforested area was up to 6,947 hectares.

The average afforestation parcel in 2023 was 5.8 hectares.

This CSO release contains an analysis of the area afforested under Department of Agriculture afforestation schemes. 

Afforestation is the planting of trees on land not previously under forest.

Species

Niamh Shanahan, statistician in the environment division of the CSO, said that the proportion of broadleaf species planted in 2023 was 54%, which is the highest share in the 2007-2023 series and is the first year that their share has been higher than the proportion of conifer species planted.

"Alder and Ash were the main broadleaf species planted during 2007 to 2013 while Alder and Birch were the main species from 2015 to 2023. Sitka spruce was the dominant conifer species and comprised 84% of coniferous species in 2023."

She said that while the share of afforested area planted by farmers in 2023 of 47% was a "large increase" on their 2022 share of 23%, it is also a "sharp decline from their 2014 share of 97%".

Roscommon had the highest county share of the total afforested area in 2023 at 11%, followed by Galway (8.4%), Mayo (7.9%), and Cork (7.7%).

"The highest average parcel size of afforested area over the 2007-2023 period was 8.4 hectares in 2009. In 2023 it was 5.8 hectares which was the lowest average parcel size across the 2007-2023 period," Ms Shanahan added.

New forestry scheme

A new forestry scheme is to launch in the coming weeks.

The proposed Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme aims to provide supports at reforestation that incentivises species and structural diversity. 

According to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, "this can result in an increase in the resilience and adaptiveness of the forest land to climate-related threats".

"My department is currently developing a system to allow applications for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme to be accepted electronically. Development is at an advanced stage and it is our intention to launch the scheme in the coming weeks," Mr McConalogue said.

"Many forests in Ireland have been established and managed under an even-aged management structure and there is a need for a greater balance between these and forests managed under closer to nature silviculture, such as continuous cover forestry and semi-natural forest."

This intervention will be delivered through a reforestation scheme with three elements: reforestation for continuous cover forestry; reforestation for native woodlands; and reforestation for biodiversity and water protection. 

"Grant funding will be available and can be used for measures that ensure successful re-establishment, such as planting, plant protection and maintenance," the minister added.