Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 1

Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

129 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the report issued by the World Wildlife Fund on 1 October 1998 which confirms that fully one third of the world's natural resources were consumed in the period 1970 to 1995 with 10 per cent of natural forest cover lost over the period in question; the proposals, if any, he has to contribute to the global effort to avoid that catastrophe that would inevitably ensue from a further collapse in the world's natural resource base in view of Ireland's acknowledged contribution to this depletion through its commercial afforestation strategy which involved replacing naturally occurring vegetation, including climax vegetation, with exotic conifers. [19203/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The Government is aware of the threat to depleting natural resources through deforestation. An ambitious afforestation programme is the major platform of the Government's forest strategy, Growing for the Future. This coupled with ongoing reforestation programmes has resulted in Ireland's forest cover being expanded. It is envisaged that afforestation cover will increase from the present relatively low level of 8 per cent of the land area to 17 per cent by the year 2035.

The afforestation grant and forest premium schemes, introduced under EU Council Regulation 2080/92 support this programme including the afforestation of agricultural land. This programme embraces a wide variety of species and includes both increased planting levels of broad-leaves and diverse species of conifers.

The high level of planting is making a contribution to offsetting greenhouse gas emissions by creating new carbon sinks. Our planting since 1990 will be a single national contribution under the Kyoto Protocol.

The Government in the context of its forest strategy is contributing to an increase in the forestry natural resource and its attendant benefits.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

130 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the report issued by the World Wildlife Fund on 1 October 1998 which confirms that fully one third of the world's natural resources have been consumed in the period 1970 to 1995 with freshwater ecosystems globally disappearing at a rate of 6 per cent per year while marine water ecosystems have diminished by 30 per cent in the same period; and the policy proposals, if any, he has that will avert, in the Irish context, the imminent catastrophe that must inevitably eventuate from this level of natural resources depletion. [19204/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I am aware of the recently published report by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) on the state of the natural world. The report, which was prepared by WWF in conjunction with the New Economics Foundation and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, presents the Living Planet Index, which analyses the deterioration of the world's ecosystems between 1970 and 1995. I am naturally concerned at the report's conclusions about the state of the natural world. I have taken particular note of its comments on the state of freshwater and marine ecosystems, and I have asked my officials to examine the report and consider its implications for Ireland.

I can assure the Deputy, however, that I am committed to the protection and preservation of our marine and freshwater environments. Central to this strategy is the protection of the overall marine ecosystem and the maintenance of the highest standards in the quality of our marine waters. This must be achieved through a blend of strong legislative control, comprehensive research and the provision of a solid infrastructure to deal with potential emergencies. Since I became Minister last year I have put in place a number of important measures to deal with the prevention of pollution around our coasts, the provision of a rapid response to pollution incidents so as to minimise damage, and the improvement of compensation arrangements where pollution incidents take place. I will shortly be bringing forward new proposals for legislation in this area.

I recognise that effective action at international level is an essential part of any strategy to protect the earth's resources. Accordingly I was pleased to lead the Irish delegation to the ministerial meeting of the OSPAR Commission in Portugal this summer. The Commission adopted an important new Annex to the OSPAR Convention to deal with the conservation of the ecosystems and biological diversity of the maritime area. The Commission also adopted important strategies dealing not only with ecosystems and biological diversity but also radioactive substances, hazardous substances, and eutrophication, and agreed a number of important decisions and recommendations, most notably in relation to the disposal of disused offshore installations.

As the Deputy may be aware, work is currently under way on the preparation of an environmental Quality Status Report (QSR) for the entire area covered by the OSPAR Convention. Ireland and the UK are responsible for the preparation of the report in respect of the area known as the Celtic Seas, which includes all of Ireland's marine and coastal areas. In conjunction with similar reports on the four other parts of the OSPAR region, the Celtic Seas QSR will be assimilated into a Convention-wide QSR that will be published in the year 2000. This report will provide an important basis for future decisions on the protection of our marine resources.

The Deputy can be assured that I will continue to work closely with my colleagues, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, to address the issues raised in the WWF report.