Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2089. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the small-scale tree planting proposal as outlined by him in the Forestry Licencing Plan 2022 is regarded as afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42038/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraForests are defined as areas which are 0.1 hectares or more in size and which have the capacity to reach at least five meters in height and with a minimum canopy cover of at least 20%. Ireland uses this definition, as set out in the LULUCF regulation, Regulatiopn (EU) 2018/841, to account for all forest plots that meet these criteria.
The target of 8,000 hectares of new afforestation per year as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021 includes all of my Department's tree planting measures that are 0.1 hectares or more in size. This includes the small-scale tree planting referred to in the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022
As the Deputy may be aware, an amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. On 4th April 2022, the new legislation was signed into law by the president. This amendment was necessary to remove the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. It is my objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting and I am confident that this change to the Act will remove a barrier to such planting.
The exemption for the creation of up to one hectare of native woodland would be available through a scheme which my Department now intends to design and implement. The development of the scheme will be undertaken following the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, subject to the findings of both assessments.
