Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
2518. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of carbon monoxide his Department has failed to capture due to missing afforestation targets in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19676/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Forestry Programme for the period 2014 – 2020 sets out afforestation targets that were consistent with the Department published “Forests, products and people Ireland’s forest policy – a renewed vision”. Over the last five years 22,045ha of new forests have been created compared to a target of 37,410ha. The table below provides annual information for the last five years.
|
Year |
Target Afforestation Area (ha) |
Actual Area Afforested (ha) |
|
2016 |
6,660 |
6,500 |
|
2017 |
7,140 |
5,536 |
|
2018 |
7,205 |
4,025 |
|
2019 |
8,115 |
3,550 |
|
2020 |
8,290 |
2,434 |
|
Total |
37,410 |
22,045 |
Carbon sequestration by forests is influenced by a range of factors including species, soil type, site conditions and management practices. The rate of sequestration changes over time as a forest develops and matures. When forests are young the sequestration rate is low but as the trees mature their ability to sequester carbon dioxide as increases.
Over the last five years there has been a shortfall in meeting targets of 15,365ha. Were this area to be afforested with 70% conifer and 30% broadleaf, these forests had the potential to remove 5.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over their lifetime and takes into account when forests are felled and replanted
This is based on a mean annual sequestration rate of 6.9 tonnes of CO2 per hectare for the conifer species and 2.3 tonnes of CO2 per hectare for the broadleaf species. This information is collated using the recently launched Forest Carbon Tool developed by Teagasc with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Further information can be found on this carbon tool which is available to the public on the Teagasc website.
The Government proactively assists and supports the development of Irish forestry through the national forestry programme, with some 4103m allocated to this in 2021. The forestry scheme is voluntary, with each individual free to decide if he or she wishes to plant forestry and avail of the grants and premiums available. The Department is determined that planting rates will recover and is supporting promotional initiatives which will encourage landowners to consider forestry as a viable use of land. There are many land-use options available to landowners and forestry is a strong contender, especially in view of the generous incentives currently available under the afforestation scheme.
Finally, the Department and stakeholders are working together to deliver Project Woodland with a view to resolve the current difficulties in the forestry sector and revitalise the creation of woodland in Ireland.
