Forestry Focus

Establishing Forests

Following centuries of deforestation Ireland is in the process of re-establishing forest cover. From a low of 1.5% at the turn of the 20th century, successive governments have invested in the annual establishment of new forests; and today forest cover now amounts to over 10% of the total land area.

Planting new forests, including the restocking felled areas,  is  an important part of Irish forest management.  In this section the forest operations involved in the establishment and maintenance of forests are described.