Thirty-four hectares of land were afforested in Louth last year

Thirty-four hectares of land were afforested in Louth last year according to recently released data by the CSO.

Afforestation is the process of establishing a forest, especially on land not previously forested. 

In Louth, 15 hectares was afforeted in 2022, no afforestation took place in 2021, two hectares were afforested in 2020 and one hectare afforested in 2019. 

The county with the highest level of afforestation took place, was Roscommon with 189 hectares afforested.

Looking at neighbouring counties, in Monaghan 10 hectares were afforested in 2023 and in Meath 54 hectares. 

Of the afforestation that took place in Louth last year, six hectares were planted by farmers while 28 hectares were planted by non-farmers. 

Commenting on the release, Niamh Shanahan, Statistician in the Environment Division, said: "The report shows the area afforested in 2023 was 1,651 hectares (ha) which was 24% of the area planted in 2007. The area afforested in 2023 was a 27% decrease on the area afforested in 2022. 

“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 (See Table 1).

“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% (See Table 2).

“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 (See Tables 3A and 3B).

“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%) (See Table 4 and Figure 3). 

“The highest average parcel size of afforested area over the 2007-2023 period was 8.4 ha in 2009. In 2023 it was 5.8 ha which was the lowest average parcel size across the 2007-2023 period (See Table 1)."