Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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640. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has compiled any data on the role that hedgerows play in carbon sequestration and thereby in meeting Ireland's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18673/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Hedgerows and woodland habitats are an important feature of the Irish landscape due in part to their roles in biodiversity, agricultural management and potential carbon sequestration. Hedgerows are estimated to cover 3.9% of the Irish landscape. The REPS and AEOS schemes facilitated the planting of approx. 10,000 km of new hedgerows and the rejuvenation of some 3,000 more. The total area of hedgerow and non forest woodland patches across the landscape may represent a significant carbon sink.

At the moment there is no national inventory system to facilitate the accounting of hedgerow sinks under the Kyoto Protocol, and there is a lack of historic baseline data to be used as a reference period for calculating greenhouse gas changes over time. However the EPA, with Teagasc, has recently concluded a climate change research programme Climate Change Research Programme (CCRP) 2007-2013, Report Series No. 32. Carbon Sequestration by Hedgerows in the Irish Landscape – Towards a National Hedgerow Biomass Inventory for the LULUCF Sector using LiDAR Remote Sensing.on carbon sequestration by hedgerows in the Irish landscape, using a LiDAR (Light detection and Ranging) remote sensing technology and terrestrial laser scanning for assessing hedgerow biomass. This technology can measure the physical characteristics of hedges and the work has concluded that a national inventory of hedgerows is technically feasible. We are now considering the report and its recommendations. Climate Change Research Programme (CCRP) 2007-2013, Report Series No. 32. Carbon Sequestration by Hedgerows in the Irish Landscape – Towards a National Hedgerow Biomass Inventory for the LULUCF Sector using LiDAR Remote Sensing.