Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
348. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the incentives his Department provides for riparian planting as recommended in the March 2019 report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action; if he will extend existing riparian planting initiatives given the proven environmental benefits of planting the areas beside waterways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37476/20]
View answerMy Department’s afforestation scheme provides support to farmers and other landowners to establish new native woodland which can deliver a range of environmental benefits including the protection and enhancement of water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Up to €6,220 is available under this scheme to cover the cost of establishment; in addition, the Department will pay premiums of up to €680 each year for 15 years.
When these forests are well-sited, designed and managed, they can deliver a range of ‘ecosystem services’ such as the prevention of sediment and nutrient run-off, the protection of banks from erosion, ‘food drop’ of insects and leaf litter into the aquatic ecosystem, the shading and cooling of water, the overall restoration of riparian habitats, and helping floodwater control. Ireland’s approach to using forests to improve water quality is set out in the “Forests & Water Achieving Objectives under Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan-2018-2021”. Through combining tree planting with their other farming activities, farmers can actively create buffer zones to protect water streams from farm pollutants and riparian erosion.
The optimum use of native woodland establishment to protect water quality is described in my Department’s publication ‘Woodland for Water: Creating new native woodlands to protect and enhance Ireland’s waters’. This document promotes the planting of Native woodland along side a permanent undisturbed water setback, 10-25 metres in width uncrossed by new drains & largely unplanted. Planting within the setback planting can comprise of single or small groups of trees of suitable native riparian species, strategically planted & maintained to deliver the ecosystem services described above.
It is worth noting that the total area of native woodlands planted so far in 2020 is the highest on record and is equal to the annual target of 450ha set at the beginning of the Forestry Programme 2014 -2020. In terms of introducing new schemes to further promote native woodland planting and riparian planting in particular, this will be included in the public consultation process that will be carried out for the new Forest Strategy and accompanying Forestry Programme.
