Forestry Facts and News
Ó An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Ó An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Forest trees began recolonising Ireland at the end of the last glacial stage 10,000 years ago. Analysis of pollen from peat bogs illustrates the establishment of forests that once covered 80% of the land surface.
The area of forest is estimated to be 808,848 ha or 11.6% of the total land area of Ireland (National Forest Inventory 2023) ;
Forest cover is estimated to be at its highest level in over 350 years;
Of the total forest area, 397,364 ha or 49.1% is in public ownership, mainly Coillte;
The forest estate is comprised of 69.4% conifers and 30.6% broadleaves;
Seventy percent of the stocked forest area is less than 30 years of age.
More information on Ireland forests can be found in Ireland’s Annual Forest Sector Statistics
See our full list from across the country.
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For the first time in the history of the state, there are more privately owned forests than publicly owned forests. In 2022, 49.1% of forests were in State ownership, a reduction from 50.8% in 2017. The expansion of the private sector forest cover is a result of afforestation and natural expansion of semi-natural forests.
Ownership | Area (ha) | % |
Public | 397,364 | 49.1 |
Private (grant-aided) | 288,497 | 35.7 |
Private (non grant-aided) | 122,987 | 15.2 |
Total | 808,848 | 100 |
More information on Ireland forests can be found in Ireland’s Annual Forest Sector Statistics
Forests and forest products play an important role in mitigating climate change by sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).
Sequestration is the net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere, and storage in plant biomass, deadwood, and harvested wood product pools. CO2 is taken up during photosynthesis and stored as biomass.
Some carbon is released back into the atmosphere due to autotrophic respiration and from the forest deadwood, litter and soils pool due to decomposition. Sustainably managed forests are a net absorber of carbon.
However, unmanaged and degrading forests eventually become a net emitter of carbon back into the atmosphere. Large emissions can also occur during catastrophic disturbance events, such as fires and windthrow. About half of carbon in harvested timber is stored in wood products (HWPs) but these carbon stores are eventually released back into the atmosphere.
Use of wood for bioenergy replaces fossil fuel use and has the potential to reduce overall emissions. Fossil fuel emissions can also be reduced by substituting energy intensive materials with wood products like product substitution.
More information on Ireland forests carbon stocks can be found in Ireland’s
There are a number of tools available that allow forest owners and managers to estimate tree and forest information. Visit the Tree felling and management page for more information and access to the tools available.
On the Forest Statistics and Mapping page , Information on more detailed statistics including;
The Central Statistics Office collect the following surveys:
The purpose of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) is to record and assess the extent and nature of Ireland’s forests, both public and private, in a timely, accurate and reproducible manner.
Listen to the podcast Trees: From Seed to Sawdust. Produced by KCLR, the 20-part series that explores the role of trees in our lives and the benefits they bring. It is funded by the department as part of the Woodland Support Project.
Watch how forestry can benefit you:
Learn some interesting forestry facts and figures:
Watch video on forestry in Ireland and woodland creation:
In this video, Ciara, Teagasc's virtual forestry adviser, highlights some of the many and wide-ranging economic, environmental and social benefits our forests provide for us every day of our lives.
For detailed information on ongoing grants and schemes, see the Forestry Division Monthly Reports and Forestry Circulars
Watch back our webinar training session for registered foresters on the Native Tree Area scheme, the Reconstitution Ash Dieback scheme, the Woodland Improvement scheme, and the Climate Resilient Reforestation scheme recorded on 8/11/2023
Watch back our webinar training session on Native Woodland Establishment from 29/9/2023.
Watch back our webinar training session for registered foresters on the Forest Road Scheme from 26/10/2023
Presentations Forest Roads Scheme Training
Presentation slides from Registered Forester Training held on 08/11/23 on the Native Tree Area scheme, the Reconstitution Ash Dieback scheme, the Woodland Improvement scheme, and the Climate Resilient Reforestation scheme
Breeding Waders for External Ecologists 27.10
Registered External Ecologists HNVF 27102023
Approvals Process for new and Existing Applications
Archaeology_NTAS Environmental Requirements for Afforestation
iNet Layers and Functionality
Registered Forester Training Ecology Overview
Registered Forester Training HNVF Procedures
Native Tree Area Scheme 07 March 2024 – Inspectorate