Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
331. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of undesignated unenclosed land identified in the land availability for afforestation report in 2016 as suitable for planting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37042/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ‘Land Availability for Afforestation’ document reported that there were 178,823 hectares of unenclosed land that were not farmed and technically suitable for forestry development.
A decision was made by the Department to restrict the planting of unenclosed land in December 2010, to no more than 20% of any one application.
Unenclosed land is, in general, less fertile and more exposed than enclosed land and trees planted on unenclosed land generally do not perform as well as trees planted on soil types associated with enclosed land.
Prior to the decision to restrict planting of unenclosed land, a number studies supported the position that habitat types associated with unenclosed land are more environmentally sensitive than enclosed land.
The planting on unenclosed land will be reviewed in the context of Project Woodland.
