There were 5,536ha of new forestry planted nationwide last year, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has told the Dáil. This is the lowest area planted since 1985, when afforestation dipped to 5,389ha. Prior to this, such low figures had not been seen since the mid-1950s.

Last year’s figure falls 22% short of the target set under the Government’s Forestry Programme. New forestry plantings have been in near-constant decline since 1995, when they topped 23,000ha. After slight increases in 2015 and 2016, afforestation suffered its heaviest fall last year since 2011.

Department figures also reveal that counties Wicklow, Leitrim and Clare are those with most forestry, covering more than 16% of their area.

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Widespread support for an independent State agency for forestry

Map: how much forestry is there in your county?