Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2010
233 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent to which in the course of the forestry planting programme an effort is being made to ensure the planting of tree species most likely to be efficient in the context of carbon sequestration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22261/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll tree species grant-aided by my Department under the forestry grant schemes achieve high levels of carbon-sequestration. The potential of different tree species to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere depends mainly on their rate of growth. Some conifer species grow rapidly and will begin to sequester considerable amounts of carbon early in their life. Other species, including some broadleaves, grow more slowly and do not sequester the same level of carbon until later in their life.
The relationship between forests and carbon sequestration is a highly complex one and the efficiency of forests to absorb carbon is not dependent upon the tree species alone. Other factors such as soil type, previous land use, local climate, disease, fire, forest management activities, fertilisation and the rate of decomposition of forest organic matter all contribute, to greater or lesser degrees, to the overall forest carbon cycle.
