Forests play a significant role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and play an important role in storing carbon in harvested wood products. Assessing a sites suitability for afforestation must take into consideration the loss of carbon from soils, the amount that will be offset by the removals from the growing trees and other environmental considerations.
The table below highlights the main reports used to inform the decision on peat as outlined in Irelands forestry programme for the period 2023 to 2027.
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EPA 2023. National inventory report Greenhouse gas emissions 1990 – 2022. Reported to the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change, EPA, Dublin
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Black.,K.,Byrne, K., D, McInerny, Landy, J. (2022) Forests for Climate: Report on Carbon Modelling of the Coillte Estate. ( not peer reviewed, but based on a number of peer reviewed research papers)
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Jovani-Sancho, A.J., Cummins, T., Byrne, K.A. 2021 Soil carbon balance of afforested peatlands in the maritime temperate climatic zone. Global change biology.
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Hargreaves, K. J., Milne, R. & Cannell, M. G. R. 2003. Carbon balance of afforested peatland in Scotland. Forestry, 76: 299-317.
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Houlihan, T., Black, K. 2020. Climate mitigation options through afforestation. Irish Forestry Vol 77:136-142.
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With regard to the planting of native woodland and conifer within the current Forestry programme, the planting of native broadleaved species on modified fen peats in agricultural use where no additional drainage takes place is permitted. These modified fen peats sites generally have a higher nutrient status than other types of peats such as blanket bogs. The decision to allow planting on modified fen peats in agricultural use is partly in recognition that some of these sites would naturally regenerate with broadleaves if left undisturbed, and also acknowledges the importance of biodiversity. Planting conifers on similar sites would require drainage and research has shown that the carbon balance of conifer stands on peat sites is initially a net removal but there is a gradual transition to a net emission after 1-3 rotations (Black et al., 2022; Hargreaves et al., 2003).
It is clear that emissions from forests on peatlands are complex and more research is required. My Department will continue to fund research on assessing the carbon emissions from forests growing on peat soils to better inform our understanding of emissions into the future.
