The right mix of forests is critical to accelerate tree planting

We need to get back to planting far more new forests, but forestry must be a financially attractive proposition if we are to encourage large-scale planting, writes Mark McAuley

Back in the 1990s we were planting up to 20,000 hectares of new forests each year. Since the turn of the century, and particularly in the last few years, there has been a dramatic decline in annual afforestation to a point where we are now planting only 2,000 hectares.

The planting of new forests in Ireland has been stalled for the last number of years.

Back in the 1990s we were planting up to 20,000 hectares of new forests each year. Since the turn of the century, and particularly in the last few years, there has been a dramatic decline in annual afforestation to a point where we are now planting only 2,000 hectares.