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Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Questions (905)

Matt Carthy

Question:

905. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 746 of 8 March 2022, the year that Irish forestry would have become projected be a net emitter of carbon had afforestation rates of 8,000 hectares been achieved in 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16608/22]

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Written answers

As stated in the Parliamentary Question No. 746 of 8 March 2022, projections of the greenhouse gas balance for Irish forests show that they will transition from a sink to a source by 2024. This transition to a net source is due to number of factors which include high levels of afforestation in earlier decades; a projected increase in harvesting as forest mature over the coming decade; deforestation; and higher emissions of CO2 from peat soils under forestry than previously estimated.

In 2024, the forest estate is estimated to become a source of 0.5 Mt CO2 eq. The potential sequestration associated with an afforestation rate of 8,000 ha in both 2020 and 2021 would not have had the capacity to reverse this trend in 2024, due to the significant influence of the aforementioned factors. It is important to remember that when new afforestation takes place, the planted trees are only a half metre in height. The sequestration rates of these trees are quite small to start but their ability to sequester carbon dioxide increases over time as these forests develop and mature.

An expanded and sustained afforestation programme of 8,000 ha or more will improve the sink capacity of the estate. The total forest estate is on course to be a sink again circa the year 2050, as harvested forests are replanted and new afforestation increases sequestration.

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