Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
735. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total hectares of land excluded from afforestation activity under bird exclusion zones within the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39848/23]
View answer736. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of land excluded from afforestation activity due to hen harrier designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39849/23]
View answer738. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a new or expanded hen harrier layer increased geographical area on IForIS which will impact on applications in the new forestry programme; the protocol around this new hen harrier layer and when it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39851/23]
View answer739. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the scientific research used to agree bird exclusion zones in the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39852/23]
View answer745. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualified authority who decided on bird exclusion zones within the forestry programme 2023-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39860/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 735, 736, 738, 739 and 745 together.
Ireland received a State aid approval letter from the EU Commission regarding its new Forestry Programme. Among other things, this letter states that afforestation under the new programme “will be avoided on environmentally unsuitable sites. Afforestation will be adapted to environmental sensitivities, such as habitats and species (including NATURA sites, Freshwater Pearl Mussel and Hen Harrier, Breeding Curlew, open habitat birds, Annex I habitats), high nature value farmland, peat soils, hedgerows, water quality (including fisheries sensitive areas, waterbody status, acid sensitive areas), archaeology, landscape, and local sensitivities.”
Under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027, afforestation is excluded from a defined buffer centered on known Curlew breeding sites. This buffer has increased from 1km to 1.5km in radius. Ireland’s Curlew Task Force, convened by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH), had previously deemed that the screening distance of 1km buffer was inadequate. The Curlew Task Force comprised a wide representation of stakeholders, including experts from relevant Government bodies and eNGOs.
The designation of lands as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for breeding Hen Harriers is a function exercised by the DHLGH, in accordance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department has not approved any afforestation within any of the six SPAs designated for breeding Hen Harrier since 2013. The continued exclusion of afforestation from these areas is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
In addition, there are a number of examples where Hen Harrier Higher Likelihood Nesting Areas (HLNAs), centered within the relevant Hen Harrier SPAs, extend beyond the SPA boundary into adjoining countryside. As was the case under the previous Forestry Programme (2014-2022), afforestation is not permitted in these areas under the new Programme.
A new requirement involves the consideration of the distribution of Hen Harrier within the wider countryside, as recorded by the NPWS in its Article 12 reporting. If an overlap with one of the areas involved occurs, my Department will have to consider the potential impact of the afforestation project on known breeding sites and available foraging habitat. Any application for afforestation in these areas must be accompanied by a report providing relevant details including any mitigation proposed in response to this sensitivity.
My Department also confirmed to the European Commission that due regard will be given to the BirdWatch Ireland Breeding Wader Hotspot map in the decision-making process in respect of applications for afforestation licences. These hotspot maps have been derived from bird observation records in various scientifically validated datasets. Training for Registered Foresters is underway regarding the new procedures arising from this sensitivity, and regarding the documentation that may need to accompany afforestation applications in these areas.
Adoption of these new requirements was necessary due to concerns raised by the European Commission during our State Aid approval process, and in order to provide further protection to threatened bird species. I am confident that the changes introduced will allow my Department to fully align the licence application and assessment process for afforestation with both environmental legislation and the State Aid conditions underpinning the new Forestry Programme.
