Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
741. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline details of European forestry legislation on planting on peat and details of his Department’s policy on planting on peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39855/23]
View answer763. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine If he will provide actual details of European forestry legislation relating to planting on peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39998/23]
View answer764. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualified authority that advised his Department on peat definition, which will be used to exclude land from commercial afforestation activity in the forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40000/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 741, 763 and 764 together.
Peat soils are an extremely important store of carbon in Ireland and any future afforestation must not undermine this function. As part of the development of the Forestry Programme 2023 to 2027, my Department reassessed its policy with regard to future afforestation on peat soils. Consideration had to be given to requirements of National and EU law when it comes to the afforestation of these areas.
Ireland is required to ensure that sinks and reservoirs, including forests, are conserved and enhanced, as appropriate, with a view to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and meeting the ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by 2050. These requirements are enshrined in national legislation through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and in European law through its regulation on land, land use change and forestry.
A 2005 study of forests on blanket peats found that these areas emitted 0.59 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year. More recent research funded by my Department has shown that forested blanket peats are emitting 1.68 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year - three times higher than previously estimated. The carbon balance of afforested areas on organic soils is initially a net removal, but based on these new emission factors, there is a gradual transition to a net emission after 1-3 rotations.
Taking into consideration the new legislative requirements and new science on emissions from peat soils, my Department developed two options for the future afforestation of organic soils in agricultural use, both of which deliver a positive greenhouse balance.
The first option allows for the planting of shallow peat soils in agricultural use where the depth of peat does not exceed 30cm and the site meets the minimum productivity requirements.
The second option allows the planting of trees on fens and cutaway raised bogs in agricultural use but restricted to native broadleaves. An additional requirement is that no new drains are installed and the site meets the minimum productivity requirements.
Associated criteria and thresholds that characterise these two options are included in the Forestry Standards Manual and Land Types for Afforestation Policy document. The requirements consider peat depth, species selection, site productivity and the potential for future drainage. These scheme requirements will be evaluated by landowners and their registered foresters when preparing their afforestation applications.
