Land Use in Ireland: A Comparison of Data from Tailte Eireann and the National Forest Inventory
Introduction
In this report, we will examine the land use map of Ireland produced by Tailte Eireann (TE), formerly known as Ordinance Survey Ireland. We will compare TE’s data with that of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) to gain a better understanding of Ireland’s forest cover and other land use categories. This analysis is important in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
Background
Previous reports have highlighted discrepancies in the land cover data for Ireland. Lorcan Roche Kelly pointed out that Ireland’s forest cover was higher than expected, while grass cover was lower than previously reported.
Comparison of Data
To address these discrepancies, we compared TE’s data with the NFI, which is produced by foresters in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) every five years. We found that the increase in afforestation and corresponding decrease in agriculture in Ireland is significant when compared with the European Agency’s CORINE data.
However, the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) inventory, which has been updated several times since its initiation in 1985, has limitations in terms of spatial resolution and classification system. TE authors argue that it does not provide sufficient detail on important land cover types in Ireland, such as grasslands and peatlands.
Tree Cover
TE categorizes forest cover into four categories and non-forest tree cover into three categories, which differ from the NFI categories. For example, TE introduces the term “transitional forest” to describe parcels of coniferous and mixed plantations with trees under 8m in height. Treelines are defined as linear lengths of mature trees along field or property boundaries with a mean height greater than 5m and a cross-sectional width at the canopy of less than 12m.
While NFI data provides more detailed information on species type, age classification, forest health, thin status, and ownership, comparing TE and NFI data reveals interesting insights. TE identifies forest cover as 862,479ha in its 2018 report, while the NFI records 808,850ha in 2022, resulting in a differential of 53,629ha. The difference is even greater when non-forest tree cover areas are compared, with TE recording 428,278ha and the NFI recording 342,280ha.
The total tree cover area, including both forest and non-forest tree cover, is 1,111,300ha or 16.5% of the land area according to the NFI. TE’s total is 1,290,757ha or 18.27%. It should be noted that these percentages are based on different total land areas. If we use the NFI land cover area of 6,976,112ha, TE’s total tree cover percentage is 18.5%.
Regardless of the calculation method, TE claims that Ireland has 179,457ha of forests and other tree cover that exceeds the NFI total. This area is larger than County Monaghan or similar in size to a combination of County Carlow and most of south County Wicklow.
Grassland and Forestry
The lower-than-expected area for grassland in Ireland could have been anticipated if more attention had been paid to NFI reports instead of CORINE’s data. The NFI provides valuable information on 18 land uses, including grassland. It identifies the area of grassland as 3,617,993ha, excluding 112,588ha of urban and rural green spaces. This is close to TE’s total of 3,681,220ha of grassland, excluding 128,564ha of “amenity grassland” used for non-agricultural activities.
TE categorizes different types of grassland, and according to their data, most future afforestation will take place in low-intensity grassland, which amounts to 747,990ha or 10.6% of the land area. To achieve the goal of 18% forest cover set by COFORD and Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019, an additional 315,000ha of grassland would need to be planted. This would require planting 42% of the low-intensity wet and dry grassland based on NFI data or 36% based on TE data.
Recommendations
It is important for DAFM and TE to align their forest and woodland categories in future surveys to ensure consistency in data. The NFI serves as the foundation for forest planning, so it is crucial for DAFM and TE to discuss the discrepancies in their forest and tree cover areas.
Irish Forest Owners (IFO) Joins Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF)
The Irish Forest Owners (IFO) has recently become a member of the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF). This membership provides IFO with a voice in Brussels, where it has been underrepresented for some time.
Derek McCabe, chair of the IFO North East Group, made the case for membership to the CEPF General Assembly in Finland, which was accepted. CEPF represents forest owners in Europe and advocates for sustainable forest management, private property ownership, and the economic viability of the forest sector.
CEPF represents national forest owner organizations from 22 countries within and outside the EU. They have five full-time staff based in Brussels and also include three associated members representing forest owners from specific regions or regional forest cooperative organizations.
This membership is a significant step forward for IFO in terms of representation at the European level, where decisions affecting Irish forestry are made. CEPF represents the interests of nearly 16 million forest owners who take care of approximately 60% of the European forest area.
IFO looks forward to being active members of CEPF and collaborating with their European counterparts to exchange information and experiences.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The article discusses land use in Ireland, specifically focusing on forest cover and grassland. This is directly related to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. Additionally, the article mentions afforestation and its impact on agriculture, which is connected to SDG 13, which addresses climate action and the need to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
The article highlights the increase in afforestation in Ireland and the corresponding decrease in agriculture. This aligns with the target under SDG 15.2 to substantially increase afforestation. Additionally, the article mentions the need to align forest and woodland categories in future surveys, which relates to the target under SDG 13.2 to integrate climate change measures into national policies and planning.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Forest cover area
- Non-forest tree cover area
- Percentage of land area covered by trees
- Area of grassland
- Percentage of land area covered by forests
The article provides data on forest cover area, non-forest tree cover area, and the percentage of land area covered by trees. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the target of increasing afforestation and sustainable management of forests under SDG 15.2. Additionally, the article mentions the area of grassland, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards the target of integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning under SDG 13.2.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. | – Forest cover area – Non-forest tree cover area – Percentage of land area covered by trees |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | – Area of grassland – Percentage of land area covered by forests |
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Source: farmersjournal.ie
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