Vol. 493 No. 4
67 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if an evaluation has been carried out of all State and privately owned forests; if so, the various species of tree there are; when it is expected that these woods will reach maturity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16514/98]
While a number of limited evaluations of the national forest estate have been carried out in the past these have been somewhat ineffective particularly in respect of identification of privately owned forests and woodland.
My Department is developing a forest inventory and planning system, FIPS, which is based on a geographical information system, GIS and will provide information on the location and classification of Ireland's forest resource. The system will also provide data on current growing stock as well as forecasting future volume production. This data will provide valuable information which will assist in developing existing and future mainstream forest industry as well as high value niche industries. The planning component of FIPS will be capable of guiding the location and characteristics of future afforestation, by taking into account environmental and aesthetic considerations.
Investment in the new system, which is receiving substantial financial support from the European Union, will result in a state-of-art technological framework for the future development of the forestry sector in Ireland.
68 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the total number of acres under afforestation in the years 1948 to 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988 and 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16515/98]
: Estimated afforestation in the years in question is as follows:
|
Years |
Acres |
|
end 1948 |
159,751 |
|
1958 |
290,485 |
|
1968 |
525,441 |
|
1978 |
741,156 |
|
1988 |
915,666 |
|
1998 |
1,346,461 |
69 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of acres of trees planted in 1950 and in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16516/98]
The estimated acreage of tree planted in 1950 and in each of the past ten years is as follows:
|
Year |
Acres |
|
1950 |
7,393 |
|
1988 |
28,929 |
|
1989 |
37,377 |
|
1990 |
39,085 |
|
1991 |
47,313 |
|
1992 |
41,264 |
|
1993 |
39,532 |
|
1994 |
48,084 |
|
1995 |
58,588 |
|
1996 |
51,845 |
|
1997 |
28,170 |
