Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
775. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of land utilised for forestry here; the amount in public ownership and private ownership, respectively; the estimated acreage that is planted with Sitka spruce trees; the acreage planted with indigenous species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9141/20]
View answerAccording to the National Forest Inventory 2017, which is the up-to-date source of data available, the total forest cover is estimated to be 770,020 ha or 11% of the total land area of Ireland. Of the total forest area, 391,357 ha or 50.8% is in public ownership, mainly Coillte.
Sitka spruce is the most common species growing in Ireland, occupying 51.1% of the forest area or 343,310 ha. It is estimated that 178,980 ha of native woodland make up the national estate.
The need for diversity within the forest estate is of course well recognised. The target in the Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 is therefore to plant 30% broadleaf species each year and, in 2019, the figure achieved was 25%, with 36% planted to end April this year. All new afforestation supported under the Forestry Programme, including sitka spruce plantations, must include 15% broadleaves. These broadleaves can also be planted along the forest edge to soften the visual effect of the main forest crop and also to provide an additional habitat. New plantations are also encouraged to include an Area of Biodiversity Enhancement which comprises of open spaces, retained habitat and widely spaced native trees. Their function is to conserve and encourage the development of diverse habitats, native flora and fauna, and biodiversity, to protect archaeological monuments and to facilitate an enhanced forest design.
The importance of conserving Ireland's native woodlands and of encouraging the planting of new native woodlands on 'green field sites' is a critical part of our approach to supporting forestry in Ireland. Under the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme, the appropriate restoration of existing native woodlands is funded, as is the appropriate conversion of existing non-native forests to native woodlands. Native woodland establishment attracts the highest grant and premium in the afforestation scheme, with €680 per hectare payable to the native woodland landowner for 15 years.
Furthermore, in order to make more attractive the native woodland scheme, the Department established a new Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF). Under this Fund, businesses are encouraged to part fund the establishment of native woodlands by means of a once-off additional payment of €1,000 per hectare. There has been a positive reaction from the business community to this scheme, with An Post, Microsoft, Aldi and Accenture already signed up and other businesses submitting formal expressions of interest in participating in the scheme.
