Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
466. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the potential for strategic afforestation to maximise carbon sequestration has been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53455/18]
View answer467. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration can be given to the planting of species of trees with a high-carbon sequestration capacity in view of the fact that some species can absorb up to four times the amount of carbon of others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53456/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 467 together.
The Forestry Programme 2014-2020 is the strategic driver of afforestation in Ireland, which is a key component of Ireland's climate action response under the National Mitigation Plan. The Forestry Programme, with a budget of €500m, aims to increase afforestation levels in Ireland over its lifetime by offering landowners a choice of 12 Grant and Premium Categories (GPCs) under a voluntary scheme.
The National Forest Inventory (NFI) published a couple of months ago shows that the national forest estate is still expanding and has now reached 11% of the total land area, with a wide variety of forest types present. The total forest area has increased from 697,842 hectares (ha) in 2006 to 770,020 ha in 2017. The national forest estate is an important and expanding store of carbon, at 312 million tonnes. Based on the NFI data, Ireland’s forests have removed an average of 3.8 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalents per year from the atmosphere over the period 2007 to 2016. This carbon resource has proven to be of pivotal significance in Ireland achieving its Kyoto target under the first commitment period of 2008-2012.
It is worth noting that the Irish climate is ideally suited to growing trees and Irish forests have high rates of carbon sequestration. Ireland’s forest policy is based on the principles of sustainable forest management and the balancing of environmental, economic, and social benefits of forests. This includes the promotion of a variety of tree species for afforestation. Although restrictions are in place around the type of land that can be planted and broadleaf species must be established on at least 15% of the grant-aided area, landowners can choose from a list of over thirty approved tree species. Afforestation of all types, sustainable forest management and the use of harvested wood products all have important roles to play in climate action irrespective of the species used.
This Government is very committed to new afforestation and have set aside a budget of €105m in 2019 to help fund new plantings and meet our stated targets under the National Forestry Programme.
