CHAPTER 2 BASELINE AND TRENDS [2.1] Tree Canopy Cover Tree canopy cover is a general indicator of the benefits provided by trees. In 2021 Ireland had a nationwide tree canopy cover of 12%. This is one of the lowest rates of tree cover amongst EU countries, with the EU average being around 35%.[7] Cork City was just above the national average with a tree canopy cover of 13%. 1 Figure 2.1 shows the extent of tree canopy cover within the Cork City administrative area.
Figure 2.1 Tree canopy cover in Cork City (Source: Blue Sky National Tree Map, 2021)
Hedgerows The tree canopy percentage cover figure provided above only includes trees 3 metres or taller. In addition to these trees, the contribution of hedgerows is also significant, particularly the role they play for biodiversity and ecological connectivity. A hedgerow, simply defined, is a row of different types of small trees, shrubs, and plants growing very close together. Hedgerows may be found along field boundaries and in urban settings. In time, some hedgerows may grow into treelines (which are a length of mature trees, typically found along field and property boundaries). Within Cork City’s hinterland—that is, the lands within the Cork City Council boundary that lies outside urbanised areas –there is an estimated 1,400 km of hedgerows).[1] The location and configuration of hedgerows as indicated in the National Land Cover Map is shown in Figure 2.2.
1 There are several methods of estimating tree canopy coverage. Tree data presented in this strategy is derived from the Blue Sky National Tree Map unless otherwise noted. This dataset, available for 2018 and 2021, provides details of the location, height, and canopy/crown extents for every tree 3m and above in height.
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