Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
168. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he has taken to ensure that afforestation opportunities are absolutely maximised through the next CAP in order to reverse the current trend. [7059/22]
View answerThe planting of trees has the potential to play a significant part in our environmental priorities especially water quality, biodiversity and climate. As outlined in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) tree planting actions have been included in both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. The new Eco-Scheme (Pillar 1) includes a tree planting option as part of the menu of options that farmers can choose from.
The Pillar II Agri-Environment Climate Measure (AECM) includes significant tree planting actions for specific objectives, such as riparian buffers for water quality, in belts for ammonia capture near the farmyard or in rows, groups or as parkland.
In addition, the AECM actions also include a farm sustainability review in which farmers can discuss a plan for their whole farm, including the identification of areas suitable for tree planting. In cases where farmers show an interest in planting trees on an area exceeding 0.1ha, the individual farmer will be encouraged to consider entering the afforestation scheme under the National Forestry Programme.
As the Deputy may be aware, a national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed as part of the work carried out in Project Woodland. This new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027. An extensive public consultation process on the new strategy has commenced and I would encourage anyone interested in forestry to participate in this process.
The new Forestry Programme will be 100% exchequer funded and will be subject to State aid approval by the European Commission. The programme will aim to support significant levels of afforestation in line with the targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021, and this will be complemented by tree planting measures under the CAP Strategic Plan
I would also like to point out that I recently secured cabinet approval to bring about changes to the Forestry Act 2014 which will make it easier to plant small areas of native trees, up to 1ha. The amendment to the Act will enable my Department to increase native tree planting as part of a scheme, which farmers will be eligible to apply for, by removing the requirement for an afforestation license for areas up to 1 ha. The proposed changes have just completed report stage in the Dail and have now been referred to the Seanad.
