There has been a 20% drop in forestry plantings through the first seven month of the year, the latest forestry dashboard figures from the Department of Agriculture confirm.
A total of 1,441ha of forestry was planted to the end of July.
This was a reduction of 335ha on the figure for the same seven-month period in 2025.
However, this year’s figures are still well up on 2024 when 910ha was planted between January and the end of July.
If the same trend is followed through the back-end of the year, total plantings this year will be just over 2,000ha – back from 2,500ha last year.
Reacting to the reduced level of planting, John Sherlock of the Irish Forest Owners (IFO) said the figures were “disappointing” given the increased level of premia payments now available for forestry.
There has been a massive jump in the area of felling licenses issued so far this year compared to 2025
“[The Department [of Agriculture] is trying its best to promote forestry as a viable option for landowners, so the figures are disappointing. But it is a reflection of the pressures that are out there for land,” Sherlock said.
Meanwhile, there has been a massive jump in the area of felling licenses issued so far this year compared to 2025.
The dashboard figures show that for the period from January to July felling licences were issued for 13,122ha of forestry.
This is an increase of 33% on the same period in 2025 when felling licences were issued for 9,862ha.
The felling licences issued so far this year equate to around 4.0 million cubic metres of harvested timber.
Industry sources said much of this timber is already on the ground, having been levelled by storms Éowyn and Darragh and is likely to be exported for processing.
In terms of afforestation, licences were issued for 2,160ha during the first seven months of 2026.
That is more or less in line with last year’s levels.
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