Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total area in hectares of wetland including lakes and rivers throughout the country; the extent to which their existence contributes to carbon reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27393/21]
View answerThe EPA National Inventory Report 2020 states that the term Wetlands as applied to Ireland refers to Unmanaged Wetlands and Managed Wetlands (80,208 ha), which are those wetland areas drained for the purpose of commercial exploitation and harvesting of peat for energy and horticultural products. Unmanaged Wetlands (1,145,591 ha) includes peatlands not commercially exploited, inland marshes, salt marshes, moors and heathland, and intertidal flats. Lakes and rivers are not included in emission/removal estimates as per international reporting guidelines. Emissions and removals in national inventories are only included for anthropogenic activities. The total proportion of land use reported for Managed Wetlands in 2018 was 1.1% representing emissions of 1,655.88 kt CO2eq. for the year 2018.
Managed Wetlands are currently a net source of emissions in Ireland, under the accounting principles of the LULUCF Regulation. Factors which will support a net removal of emissions from Managed Wetlands include:
- a reduction in peat extraction activity, for example, through the recent cessation of peat harvesting by Bord Na Móna; and
- the restoration and rehabilitation activities planned under the Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme.
It should also be noted that there are also activities that could cancel out these removals.
