Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
719. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of Sitka spruce within the State forestry estate; the proportion of this area classified as monoculture or near-monoculture planting; and if he will provide a breakdown by year for the past ten years. [32674/26]
View answer720. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any policy targets are in place to reduce reliance on single-species conifer systems within State forestry; if so, the baseline percentage, current percentage, and target timeline; and if not, whether such targets are under consideration. [32675/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 720 together.
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 in Ireland has set an ambitious annual target for broadleaf planting, increasing it to 50% of total annual planting. This is a significant rise from the 30% target in the previous programme. This includes a 20% minimum of broadleaf as mandatory for all mixed forest types and 15% of the total area to be afforested to be set aside for Areas of Biodiversity Enhancement. These targets apply to all new forests in the private and public forest estates.
Coillte was established as a commercial state company with private limited status under the Forestry Act, 1988, to become custodian and manager of the national forest estate.
Coillte's Strategic Vision for Our Future Forest Estate sets out its high-level ambitions to 2050 to balance and deliver the multiple benefits of forests for climate action, biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the forest and wood product industry.
A guiding principle of delivering on this ambition is to increase the area of its forest estate being managed for nature from 20% to 50% in the long term. As of 2025 Coillte achieved its ambition to manage 30% of its estate primarily for nature and biodiversity.
The most recent National Forest Inventory survey in 2022 shows the extent of Sitka spruce in Coillte’s stocked forest area is 204,000 ha. The recording of Sitka as the main species in the inventory does not infer the forest is a monoculture as other tree species may also be present within the stand.
It was not possible to provide a breakdown by year for the past ten years within the allowable timeframes, but Coillte will provide the information directly to the Deputy.
