Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
779 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will supply a list of the significant amount, in area and location, of environmental broadleaf tree planting undertaken by Dúchas and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 1997-2003. [11310/04]
View answer780 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will supply a list of the areas and locations of the environmental conifer tree planting undertaken by Dúchas and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and by local authorities in 1997-2003. [11311/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 779 and 780 together.
My Department's national parks and wildlife service is responsible for the management of woodlands in State-owned natural heritage sites. In general, such woodlands contain large numbers of native tree species. Very little formal planting takes place at these sites, as natural regeneration is the preferred method of increasing the numbers of broad-leaved trees. However, at sites where exotic conifers are the dominant species, a programme of conifer clearance is ongoing and, when clear-felled, these areas are generally fenced off to allow for natural regeneration of native tree species.
Between 1997 and 2003, planting of broadleaved species took place as follows: Glengarriff Wood nature reserve, County Cork, 130.6 hectares of this wood has been clear-felled in the period under discussion and the area is being managed as a broadleaf plantation; 85 hectares of the clear-felled area has been planted with broadleaf, and the rest of the area is being left to natural re-generation of broadleaf species, a process which is progressing well: Wicklow Mountains national park, WMNP, approximately five hectares was planted at Derrybawn. Approximately six hectares of exotic species were clear-felled and replanted with native broadleaved species at Deputy's pass. Some 4.9 hectares of exotic species was clear-felled and replanted with broadleaved native species at St. Saviour's Wood. Approximately two hectares of mixed native broadleaf's and hedgerows was planted on areas around the WMNP offices at Kilafin, Laragh, County Wicklow. Other plantings include, some 0.5 hectares of oak species was planted in mitigation of trees cleared for the construction of the Glen of the Downs road scheme. Approximately ten hectares of exotic species was cleared from the Vale of Clara nature reserve, County Wicklow, and natural regeneration of native species is being allowed to take place here. Approximately 750 broadleaf trees have been planted at Wexford wildfowl reserve.
The NPWS does not generally engage in the planting of non-native conifer trees, although small quantities of yew and Scots pine are planted from time to time. My Department does not have details of tree planting by local authorities.
