A new report by the Department of Agriculture lays bare the decline in afforestation levels over the last 20 years.

The Forest Statistics Ireland 2025 report shows that afforestation tanked to just 1,573ha in 2024, the lowest level out of the past 20 years.

Twenty years ago, some 10,096ha of land was planted and despite increases in planting in 2009 and 2010, planting has been steadily in decline since 2016.

In its report, the Department has said that forest policy and other land-use policies have changed over time, which has influenced the level of afforestation.

“These factors have influenced the level of afforestation by affecting aspects such as the financial return to landowners through increased support payments.

“Other changes have introduced criteria on the type of land to be afforested which has reduced the area of land available for afforestation,” it said.

Restrictions were placed on the type of land forestry could be planted on over the last decade. This included a ban on planting in hen harrier special protection areas (SPAs) in 2015.

Despite higher grants and premiums for the planting of new forests in 2018, afforestation levels continued to decline.

The Government's target under the Climate Action Plan is 8,000ha per year by 2030. The last time this target was 2010 when 8,314ha was planted.