Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
742. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the ‘Issues impacting the Forestry Sector’ report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine and its recommendation to review the decision to stop plantations on un-enclosed lands as much as possible, in terms of meeting Ireland’s annual afforestation target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52828/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ‘Issues impacting the Forestry Sector’ report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine recommends a review of a decision 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 of studies supported the position that habitat types associated with unenclosed land are more environmentally sensitive than enclosed land. Furthermore, recent research on forestry on peats indicates that these forests can be a source of carbon dioxide.
As the Deputy may be aware, the draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan which includes the next Forestry Programme for the period 2023 – 2027 Plan is currently undergoing a period of public consultation. The Programme includes a draft proposal that unenclosed land will no longer be eligible for grant aid. For all afforestation applications processed under the next Forestry Programme, the land will have to comply with the Department’s Land Types for Afforestation Document which sets out the criteria for eligibility of land under the Afforestation Scheme. Further to the public consultation, the document will be updated for the next Forestry Programme.
