Afforestation levels have collapsed so far this year, with overall plantings falling by 50% compared to same period in 2025.
The Department of Agriculture dashboard shows that afforestation levels for the year to the week ending 8 May totalled 510ha. This compares to 1,079ha for the same period in 2025.
Those involved in the forestry industry have warned that the progress and momentum made in expanding overall afforestation levels in 2025 risked being squandered this year.
Just 510ha have been planted up to the first week of May this year.
Reached
In 2025 that total area of afforestation reached 2,527ha, up from 1,573ha in 2024.
However, there are growing fears that new plantings in 2026 could struggle to top 1,200ha and is very unlikely to reach 1,500ha. While clearing up the vast area of plantations levelled last year by storm Éowyn has disrupted plantings in 2026, industry insiders maintained that the process of getting approval for the planting of new ground had become too onerous and complicated.
“Any process where you have to get up to five different reports is, by its very nature, too complicated,” said a leading forestry advisor, who did not wish to be named.
Meanwhile, IFA farm forestry chair Padraig Stapleton has expressed concern at the delay in appointing a Minister of State with responsibility for forestry.
Michael Healy-Rae resigned from the post last month following differences over the Government’s handling of the fuel price
protests.
Stapleton said the failure of Government to fill the post illustrated the level of importance afforded to forestry, Stapleton said.
While work has commenced on the development of the next Forestry Programme 2028-2032, Stapleton said a dedicated minister was needed to drive the process forward and deliver a “workable programme”.
The formation of an independent national Forestry Development Agency (FDA) as part of the next Forestry Programme was essential to rebuild and maintain confidence in the sector, Stapleton added.
“Such an agency would be an independent structure aimed at driving afforestation and supporting the forestry sector,” he said.
Afforestation levels have collapsed so far this year, with overall plantings falling by 50% compared to same period in 2025.
The Department of Agriculture dashboard shows that afforestation levels for the year to the week ending 8 May totalled 510ha. This compares to 1,079ha for the same period in 2025.
Those involved in the forestry industry have warned that the progress and momentum made in expanding overall afforestation levels in 2025 risked being squandered this year.
Just 510ha have been planted up to the first week of May this year.
Reached
In 2025 that total area of afforestation reached 2,527ha, up from 1,573ha in 2024.
However, there are growing fears that new plantings in 2026 could struggle to top 1,200ha and is very unlikely to reach 1,500ha. While clearing up the vast area of plantations levelled last year by storm Éowyn has disrupted plantings in 2026, industry insiders maintained that the process of getting approval for the planting of new ground had become too onerous and complicated.
“Any process where you have to get up to five different reports is, by its very nature, too complicated,” said a leading forestry advisor, who did not wish to be named.
Meanwhile, IFA farm forestry chair Padraig Stapleton has expressed concern at the delay in appointing a Minister of State with responsibility for forestry.
Michael Healy-Rae resigned from the post last month following differences over the Government’s handling of the fuel price
protests.
Stapleton said the failure of Government to fill the post illustrated the level of importance afforded to forestry, Stapleton said.
While work has commenced on the development of the next Forestry Programme 2028-2032, Stapleton said a dedicated minister was needed to drive the process forward and deliver a “workable programme”.
The formation of an independent national Forestry Development Agency (FDA) as part of the next Forestry Programme was essential to rebuild and maintain confidence in the sector, Stapleton added.
“Such an agency would be an independent structure aimed at driving afforestation and supporting the forestry sector,” he said.
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