Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
626. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the serious decline in the number of farmers that afforested a part of their farm during the duration of GLAS has been included in any SWOT analysis and needs assessment completed by his Department as part of the CAP Strategic Plan in particular the eco-scheme and agri-environment measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33000/21]
View answerThe draft CAP Strategic Plan regulation, currently under negotiation, requires that an analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT analysis) and a Needs Assessment forms part of the CAP Strategic Plan prepared by each Member State.
A SWOT analysis was accordingly undertaken as part of the development of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, in which the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in the Irish agricultural sector are identified. A Needs Assessment has also been compiled which identifies and prioritises the high-level needs of the agricultural sector, based on the SWOT analysis, as well as feedback from stakeholders and the European Commission. Interventions are currently being designed based on the needs identified.
While the lower level of new forestry planting over recent years was noted in the SWOT analysis as a weakness, the SWOT analysis identifies opportunities to increase relatively low level of forest cover, including native and/or broadleaf species. It cites the allocation of funding by the Government for the Forestry Programme and identification of forestry as an extremely effective climate change mitigation tool; one that has the potential to deliver very high climate related benefits, and its consequential inclusion in AgClimatise.
The Needs Assessment identifies two needs in relation to forestry, namely, to increase the carbon sequestration potential of Ireland’s forests and woodlands and to maximise the contribution of forestry including the planting of native trees in appropriate locations, safeguarding existing biodiverse habitats. Eco-scheme and agri-environment scheme(s) have been identified as interventions for consideration to address these needs.
GLAS is implemented under the provisions of EU Regulation (EU) no 1305/2013. Section 12 of the GLAS terms and conditions outline that afforestation is fully compatible with GLAS and is recognised as contributing to the creation of a valuable landscape mosaic at farm-level. It is also important to note that GLAS is not a whole-of-farm scheme and that afforestation opportunities continue to exist for GLAS participants on parcels that do not contain GLAS actions.
Priority now must be the implementation of meaningful tree-planting measures as part of our future agri-environment measures and better integration of the next CAP and the next National Forestry Programme.
