Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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457. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are requirements for alkalinity testing for hardwood forestry plantations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33356/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have an agreed protocol for the determination of the acid sensitivity of surface water in the context of afforestation. Applications submitted for afforestation in areas described as being potentially acid sensitive must be accompanied by the results of water sampling taken from the receiving watercourse in the months of February, March, April and May. These results present a measure of alkalinity, reflecting the capacity of the surface water to buffer against acidification that may be connected to afforestation, and which may otherwise affect fish and other forms of aquatic life. Under the protocol, afforestation is not permitted if any one of the four samples falls below a threshold level of alkalinity, which indicates that the sampled watercourse is sensitive to acidification. As a result of this protocol, afforestation has been generally restricted within these Acid Sensitive Areas.

Up to recently, the agreed acid sensitivity protocol applied to all afforestation projects under the various support schemes available from my Department, including the planting of hardwoods (or broadleaves) under the general Afforestation Scheme. However, in February of this year, my Department secured the agreement of the EPA to amend the protocol to allow applications under the Native Woodland Establishment Scheme, without the requirement for water sampling. This amendment, supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Heritage Council and the Woodlands of Ireland, was based on the ecological focus and the unique approach to establishment and management underpinning the Native Woodland Scheme, and the wide range of eco-system services new native woodlands can deliver, including the protection of water quality and aquatic life.

It is important to highlight that quality hardwood production is strongly encouraged under the Native Woodland Establishment Scheme, where ecologically compatible and where realized using various ‘close-to-nature’ forest management systems. Wood production is a stated objective of many of the new native woodland projects funded under the scheme to date, and specific guidelines on establishing and management native woodlands for timber are available. The Native Woodland Establishment Scheme offers farmers and other landowners located within Acid Sensitive Areas – and within other ecologically sensitive locations – an opportunity to avail of an afforestation scheme and associated grants and premiums, and to create a woodland resource compatible with various environmental sensitivities and capable of providing future revenue through the realization of quality hardwood. In partnership with Woodlands of Ireland, the Forest Service will be holding training days for professional foresters over the coming weeks and months, aimed at promoting this use of the scheme as an option for farmers and other landowners within Acid Sensitive Areas and other sensitive locations.