Clare has recorded its lowest rate of afforestation in three years.
Figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine show the county had a smaller share of afforested land than in previous years in 2023, accounting for less than 10% of afforested land nationwide.
Afforestation is the environmentally-beneficial practice of planting trees on land which previously had no tree cover.
In 2022, Clare had the second-largest county share of afforested land as it accounted for 211 hectares, or 9% of the total afforested area.
Last year, just 117 hectares here were afforested which means at 7%, Clare had just the fifth-highest county share, behind Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Cork.
73 hectares in this county were planted by farmers while the remaining 44 hectares planted are classed as non-farmer afforestation.
Nationally, broadleaf species made up 54% of the total afforestation area last year, making it the first year that broadleaf trees comprised the majority of species planted.
Clare has bucked this trend however – planting 71 conifers in 2023 – this number exceeded only by Roscommon – while the remaining trees planted here were broadleaf trees.
A total of 1,651 hectares were afforested nationwide last year which was down 27% from the 2,273 planted in 2022.
Alder and Birch were the main broadleaf species planted while Sitka Spruce comprised 84% of coniferious species.
