Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2019

Thursday, 10 October 2019

Ceisteanna (212)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

212. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that planting trees on bogland dries it out leading to greater carbon emissions from the soil than sequestration by the trees; if this fact was taken on board before his announcement that 600,000 trees will be planted on bogland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41401/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Forests play an important role in capturing carbon emissions in our atmosphere and are vital contributors to action on climate change. Currently, Ireland has 11 per cent of forest cover, up from just 1 per cent a century ago, and intends achieving 18 per cent cover by 2050.  This proposed venture between Coillte and Bord na Mona will help achieve these targets in line with our commitments under the Climate Action Plan.

My Department published a paper in 2010 through the Council for Forestry Research and Development, COFORD, called “The greenhouse gas balance of peatland forests”. This paper highlighted the dynamics at play with regard to peatlands and peatland forests and their capacity to both emit carbon while also acting as an important carbon sink. This dynamic depends on site conditions, peat type and peatland development stage. Cutaway bogs, for example, which are the peatland type to be planted under the Coillte/Bord na Mona project, are understood to be emitting carbon on an ongoing basis as they already have been drained and as such the peat is subject to ongoing decomposition.

In relation to the woodland types planned as part of the Coillte/Bord na Mona project, it is very difficult to provide an accurate assessment of the potential greenhouse gas balance of these new forests. Applications to begin planting have not yet been submitted to my Department for consent. Coillte and Bord na Mona are currently assessing a number of sites and will prepare an application which will include details of the location and extent of native woodland proposed.  

Nevertheless, based on research on the subject of carbon balance, it is reasonable to conclude that Woodland creation will accelerate the restoration of the carbon sink function on these peatland sites through new carbon stocks in biomass, woody debris and litter. The extent to which it does will depend on the relative balance between carbon uptake and loss. The proposed woodland creation on the Bord na Mona lands is one of a suite of land use options, which includes rewetting. Woodland creation as proposed represents a small area of the overall Bord na Mona land holding.

Barr
Roinn