Donegal had the lowest percentage increase in the country in forests and woodland cover in the decade to 2021.
The figures were contained in the latest analysis from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published today.
While all counties had an increase in total area covered by forests and woodlands over this time period, Donegal had the lowest percentage increase, at less than 5% (2,435 hectares). Meanwhile, the largest percentage increase was seen in Longford, with an increase of more than 25% (2,154 hectares).
Louth and Dublin were the counties with the lowest total coverage over the 2012 to 2021 period, with under 4,000 hectares in each county. Cork had the highest total area, increasing to almost 90,000 hectares in 2021. Meath, Dublin, and Louth were the counties with the lowest coverage of Forests & Woodlands as a percentage of the total county area in 2021, at 3.7%, 4%, and 4.1% respectively. Wicklow was the county with the highest coverage, at more than 20% of the total area of the county, followed by Leitrim (17.5%) and Clare (15.5%).
The analysis also shows coniferous forests, which include species such as spruce, increased by 9% in the period, broadleaves were up 18% but mixed forests increased by 20%.
The Government has set an annual afforestation target of 8,000 hectares with the intention to reach 18% cover by 2050.
In recent years planting has fallen far short of that target. In 2023 just 1,600 hectares of new forest was planted here.
Under the newly announced Forestry Strategy, with improved grants and annual premia being offered, it is hoped the planting rate in 2024 will get closer to the target.
So far this year, according to Government weekly forestry updates 677 hectares of new forest planting was licensed in January and February which is well up on 2023, but down on 2022.
In planting terms for the first two months of the year, 154 hectares of forestry was planted, up from 113 hectares in the same period last year, but lower than the 326 hectares planted in January and February 2022.
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