{"id":1336403,"date":"2024-06-25T13:40:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T12:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=1336403"},"modified":"2024-06-25T12:36:59","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T11:36:59","slug":"farmers-accounted-for-47-of-afforestation-in-2023-cso","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/farmers-accounted-for-47-of-afforestation-in-2023-cso\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers accounted for 47% of afforestation in 2023 – CSO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The area of new forestry planted by farmers accounted for 47% of total afforestation in 2023, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The figures published today (Tuesday, June 25) shows that 1,651ha was afforested last year, a 27% decrease from the 2,273ha planted in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CSO data is based on analysis of the area afforested under Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) schemes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afforestation is the planting of trees on land not previously under forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afforestation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last year, farmers planted 773ha of trees, non-farmers planted 877ha, while the public sector was responsible for 2ha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were 287 afforestation parcels in 2023, which an average size of 5.8ha. In 2022, there were 309 parcels with an average size of 7.4ha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Afforestation area by applicant type 2007-2023.<\/strong> Source: CSO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The data shows that broadleaf species comprised 54% (899ha) of the 2023 afforestation area, up from 42% in the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This marks the first year that broadleaf species have comprised the majority of species planted since the CSO series began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitka spruce accounted for 39% of the 2023 afforestation area with 636ha of the species planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CSO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The CSO data shows that afforestation rates have been on a downward trajectory since 2016, apart from a slight increase in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The highest annual afforestation area was recorded in 2010 when 8,314ha was planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niamh Shanahan, statistician in the CSO environment division, said the report shows the area afforested in 2023 was just 24% of the area planted in 2007 (6,947ha). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“The share of afforested area planted by farmers in 2023 was 47% which was a large increase on their 2022 share of 23%, but a sharp decline from their 2014 share of 97%.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

“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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Sitka Spruce was the dominant conifer species and comprised 84% of coniferous species in 2023,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“The highest average parcel size of afforested area over the 2007-2023 period was 8.4 ha in 2009. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

“In 2023 it was 5.8 ha which was the lowest average parcel size across the 2007-2023 period,” Shanahan added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Afforestation by county in 2023. Source: CSO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The CSO data<\/a> shows that Roscommon had the highest county share of the total afforested area in 2023 at 11% or 189ha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was followed by Galway with 139ha (8.4%), Mayo on 131ha (7.9%), and Cork, which had 127ha (7.7%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no afforestation recorded in Dublin in 2023, while the lowest rates were reported in Monaghan (10ha), Wexford (14ha) and Waterford (19ha).<\/p>\n\n\n