Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
163. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the role that the forestry industry contributes to climate change alleviation here; if he will encourage an expansion of this contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20540/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur forests provide eco-system services, support the environment and biodiversity as well as contributing to climate change alleviation and supporting Ireland to meet our environmental responsibilities. On top of this, forestry also provides important resources for the bioenergy supply chain and the wider bio-economy, as well as timber products, which can act as a less carbon-intensive substitute for other materials in construction and related sectors. Forestry provides verifiable removal and storage of CO2 from the atmosphere, which will help Ireland to meet our climate objectives. Approximately 11% of our land area is under forestry which, through ongoing sustainable forest management, has the potential to provide carbon mitigation of up to 2,100kiltonnes of CO2 each year up to 2030.
Forestry planting across the country has, however, more than halved since 2000. The Programme for Government commits to the development of a new strategy to expand afforestation, particularly "Close to Nature" forestry and agro-forestry, which will be led by Minister of State Hackett in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. This work will also interlink with and inform our wider development of a land use plan for Ireland, similarly outlined in the Programme for Government.
