Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2022
261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has in mind to ensure that the lands suitable for forestry are sufficiently utilised for the plantation of trees in the future; if native deciduous species will be intermingled with species having a greater capacity for sequestration of carbon. [18650/22]
View answerAll lands suitable for afforestation must be environmentally suitable and have the capacity to grow trees sustainably. My Department has published "Land Types for Afforestation" which sets out the eligibility criteria for grant aid and is based on the capability of lands to produce a sustainable crop of timber. Existing forests and the creation of new forests are important for climate change mitigation and for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The impacts of climate change resulting from increasing temperatures will also have an impact on existing forests and can impact the choice of species to plant in the future. The planting of more resilient forests which contain a mixture of different species will help forests adapt in the future.
All species of broadleaves and conifers remove carbon by sequestration and provide benefits for climate change mitigation when planted on the right site. The rate of carbon sequestration can differ between species. Conifers in general remove carbon at a faster rate than broadleaves. However both types in general store similar amounts when both forests are mature. When assessing the benefits of forests and the mix of forest types planted it is important to recognise the range of non timber benefits which also include biodiversity.
My Department has published the Agriculture, Forest and Seafood Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan which provides information on Ireland's changing climate and the measures that should be taken on how to manage forests now and in the future. This adaptation plan is published on my Departments website.
