2014-04-22 - Socio Economic Review 2014 - Full text and cover - FINAL

land use
• In 2010, 10.7% of Ireland’s land was covered by forestry. This was the second
lowest proportion of forest cover in the EU. The EU average forest cover in 2010
was 35.5% of total land area.
• The area of forest owned privately in Ireland increased from 23% in 1980 to 46%
in 2010.
• Although the area farmed organically increased by over 150% between 1997 and
2009, Ireland had the third lowest percentage of agricultural land designated as
organic in the EU in 2009.
• Ireland had the fifth largest cattle herd in the EU in 2010 with 6.8% of total cattle
numbers.
biodiversity and Heritage
• Only 7% of Ireland’s habitats listed under the Habitat’s Directive are considered
to be in a favourable state.
• The social and economic benefits of Ireland’s biodiversity are worth at least €2.6
billion per annum.
• Ireland had the smallest percentage of land in the EU designated as a Special
Protected Area, under the EU Birds Directive, at only 3% of total land area in
2010.
• Ireland at 11% had less land designated as a Special Protected Area under the EU
Habitats Directive than the EU average of 14% in 2010.
294 Socio-Economic Review 2014