Diverse forests could solve Ireland’s timber shortages

A new literature review, backed by DEFRA and Teagasc, suggests that increasing species diversity in productive forests could tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, housing shortages, and domestic timber scarcity in Ireland.

Published in the Quarterly Journal of Forestry, the paper by Andrew Leslie of Forest Research and Ian Short of Teagasc advocates for mixed-species forests as an “insurance policy” for forestry.

Combining broadleaves or broadleaves with conifers can enhance resilience to extreme weather, boost wildlife, reduce pest and disease damage, improve productivity, and increase financial returns from broadleaved trees.

The review highlights that diverse tree species respond differently to stresses like storms, drought, and extreme temperatures, and well-managed mixed stands can yield higher productivity while supporting woodland conservation.

Co-author Andrew Leslie, Head of Silviculture and Wood Properties at Forest Research, commented, “The potential for increased timber productivity in these diverse forest stands can contribute to a greater supply of domestically grown wood, potentially supporting the construction sector’s growing demand for timber.”

Dr Ian Short, Silviculture Senior Research Officer with Teagasc, said: “Considering the mounting pressures on our forests from escalating pest and disease outbreaks and the accelerating impacts of climate change, the timing of this review is critical.”

“We recognised that while mixed species stands, especially those with broadleaves, constitute a significant portion of the forest area in Great Britain, there’s a noticeable scarcity of formal research specifically investigating their potential for timber production,” he added.

Storm Éowyn on January 24th destroyed 23,625 hectares of forestry, leading to €500million in losses for commercial timber companies.

Insurance payments as a result of the damage caused by the storm are likely to be the highest on record, surpassing €300million.

In the first quarter of 2025, Ireland saw a 130% surge in new forestry planting compared to the same period in 2024, according to data released by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on Friday.

Since January, 627 hectares have been planted, with over 6,000 hectares licensed and ready for planting.