Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses. This is an incredibly interesting discussion.

The 60% of the forest land in Ireland that is managed is likely to be a net emitter until 2025. I ask the witnesses to comment on clear-felling. As has been mentioned, much of the sequestration is in the soil. How much of that could be potentially reduced by a thinning approach? How much of the remaining 40% of afforested land and new managed forestry that is less than 30 years old could be converted to diverse forestry? I am referring to forest that is already planted. I was interested in what was said about bringing biodiversity back into currently afforested land by moving towards continuous cover and more broadleaf forest.

Will the witnesses comment on the practice of having a decorative flourish of broadleaf around the edge of forestry and the importance of having an integrated diversity within our forestry? I am interested in hearing specifically how much of the emissions loss is due to clear-fell and how much could be done if we brought in a thinning mandate now for managed forest land.

Under the mandate for the protection of peatlands, only the finest specimens have been protected and in many cases, they have not been managed. I ask the witnesses to comment on the management of existing special areas of conservation, SACs, on which cutting is still taking place, and the need to expand that network of both SACs and national heritage areas, NHAs. What might be the ladder or trajectory for degraded bogs, from rewetting to rehabilitation and then habitat restoration.

I ask the witnesses to comment on our target of having 30% of land designated as protected areas in the context of biodiversity and climate benefits. How much of our forestry and peatland could bring us towards that target?

My final question is for Birdwatch Ireland and I am happy to get a written answer if we run out of time. Mention was made of inadequate protection of hedgerows and I ask the witnesses to comment on that as well as on the use of environmental impact assessment tools in the context of birds, water, habitat directives and so on. Could they be used more? They are used on Natura sites vis-à-visbirds but should they be used more generally? I would also welcome comments from the witnesses on urban biodiversity and marine biodiversity in the context of bird life.