asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the acreage of forest plantation, exclusive of old woodlands, possessed by the State in 1922; the acreage of old woodlands so possessed; the acreage acquired for forestry in each year since 1922; the annual acreage planted and the estimated present money value of existing State forest lands and forestry plantations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reafforestation.
The information sought regarding forest lands in possession of the State in 1922 and annual acquisition and planting since that date is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.
As regards the estimated current money value of State forest lands a figure is not available. Various attempts have been made to estimate the capital value of State forests as a whole but such estimation cannot be effected on a reliable basis because of the difficulties associated with the volumetric assessment of large areas of growing plantations on the one hand and the impossibility of reliable adjustment of actual immediate value of young plantations by reference to their ultimate potential value many years later.
Following is the statement:—
(i) FORESTRY LANDS IN POSSESSION OF THE STATE IN 1922:
|
Old Woodland |
2,596 acres. |
|
Young Plantations |
3,222 acres. |
|
Plantable Reserve |
9,257 acres. |
|
Unplantable |
4,346 acres. |
|
Total |
19,421 acres. |
(ii)
|
Acquisition |
Plantings |
|
|
Year |
(acres) |
(acres) |
|
1922/23 |
6,281 |
959 |
|
1923/24 |
(3,861) |
1,176 |
|
1924/25 |
2,210 |
|
|
1925/26 |
3,765 |
3,053 |
|
1926/27 |
1,854 |
2,908 |
|
1927/28 |
4,695 |
3,435 |
|
1928/29 |
1,391 |
3,446 |
|
1929/30 |
6,124 |
3,069 |
|
1930/31 |
2,030 |
3,565 |
|
1931/32 |
4,335 |
3,646 |
|
1932/33 |
2,179 |
3,564 |
|
1933/34 |
6,984 |
4,179 |
|
1934/35 |
18,156 |
5,511 |
|
1935/36 |
15,542 |
6,919 |
|
1936/37 |
9,740 |
7,321 |
|
1937/38 |
13,713 |
7,389 |
|
1938/39 |
7,655 |
7,603 |
|
1939/40 |
13,437 |
6,815 |
|
1940/41 |
8,057 |
5,961 |
|
1941/42 |
11,736 |
4,482 |
|
1942/43 |
9,802 |
4,318 |
|
1943/44 |
5,182 |
4,022 |
|
1944/45 |
6,020 |
4,230 |
|
1945/46 |
8,035 |
3,598 |
|
1946/47 |
5,330 |
3,850 |
|
1947/48 |
7,497 |
6,005 |
|
1948/49 |
3,782 |
7,736 |
|
1949/50 |
9,126 |
7,393 |
|
1950/51 |
21,601 |
9,372 |
|
1951/52 |
19,107 |
14,992 |
|
1952/53 |
19,418 |
12,488 |
|
1953/54 |
20,443 |
12,449 |
NOTE: The above are gross annual figures. The aggregates thereof are subject to adjustments.