Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Management

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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229. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there are no management plans in place for the extremely valuable and vulnerable 0.002% of ancient woodlands, some of which are in the care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; if his Department or the Forest Service expressed any concern at this precarious situation regarding these most valuable land based habitats and most important indigenous forest seed banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35355/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new draft forestry programme which will cover the period 2014 – 2020 includes a number of measures which may be used to conserve and protect the valuable habitats and ecosystem services provided by Ireland’s ancient woodlands.

1. Measure Number 6: TheNative Woodland Conservation Scheme (NWS Conservation) supports the protection and enhancement of existing native woodlands, primarily to protect and enhance native woodland ecosystems. Specific forest types targeted by this scheme include;

- Woodlands designated as a cSAC, NHA, pNHA or SPA;

- Old Woodland Sites, whereby original 6 inch Ordnance Survey maps show continuous woodland/forest cover since the 1830s;

2. Measure 10: The Forest Genetic Reproductive Material Scheme calls for new suitable seed stand to be identified and registered in the National Catalogue of Seed Stands. These seeds stands may then be eligible for support under this scheme where aid will be provided to improve the management and protection of these important sites. Existing registered seed stand from which seed is not currently being collected will also be eligible for this support. The objective of this scheme will be to increase production of quality seed leading to better adapted, more resilient and productive forests.

3. Measure Number 11: Forest Management Plans. Support under this measure is primarily aimed at forests planted under the afforestation scheme. However, as part of the public consultation process consideration could be given to the suitability of this measure to include ancient woodlands.

The programme itself is now undergoing a second round of public consultation at which point careful consideration will be given to submissions made.

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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230. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the new forestry programme's failure to focus on ancient woodland sites regarding biodiversity, genetic material security, climate mitigation measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35356/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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TheNative Woodland Conservation Scheme (NWS Conservation) which is included in the new draft forestry programme 2014 – 2020, provides support for the protection and enhancement of existing native woodlands. Specific forest types targeted by this scheme include:

- Woodlands designated as a cSAC, NHA, pNHA or SPA;

- Old Woodland Sites, whereby original 6 inch Ordnance Survey maps show continuous woodland/forest cover since the 1830s.

The programme itself makes reference to a number of key environmental services provided by this scheme where ancient woodlands are an important feature:

-Supporting services: Supporting services have biodiversity as their bedrock, and involve ecosystem functions like soil formation and nutrient cycling. Ancient woodlands, with their exceptional biodiversity, including remnant populations of specialist fauna and flora, contribute very significant supporting services;

- Regulating services: Forests regulate water quality and the volume of water run-off. They also protect against soil erosion and stabilise riverbanks. Carbon sequestration is of increasing value given the need to mitigate emissions in climate change strategies;

- Provisioning services: The provisioning services of native woodlands provide us with ecosystem goods: not only timber, wood products and wood fuel, but also wild foods such as berries, mushrooms and venison. These are valued and utilised in many other European states and have considerable potential in Ireland too. An additional provisioning service, much utilised in Ireland, is the forage and shelter forests accord to farm animals, realising a significant benefit in reduced agricultural input costs;

- Cultural services: Woodlands make an important contribution to landscape quality. Their presence is valued for amenity use, providing physical and mental well-being, aesthetic and spiritual pleasure, and opportunities for the appreciation of birds and other wildlife. Ancient woodlands, in particular, also provide historical landscape value as they often contain archaeological features and evidence of past agriculture and settlement.

Possibilities for supporting ancient woodlands also exist in both the Forest Genetic Reproductive Material Scheme and the measure providing support for Forest Management Plans. The draft programme itself is undergoing a second round of public consultation at which point careful consideration will be given to submissions made. The closing date for submissions is 13thOctober 2014. Further details are available on the Department’s website .

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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231. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he was alerted by the Forest Service to the vulnerability of ancient woodland seed banks in terms of disease threats, in view of the fact that a management plan in place it is very difficult to ensure the security of the sites as well as ability to control any potential outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35357/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Conservation and development of forest genetic resources are fundamental to realising national forest policy goals. Increasing emphasis on biodiversity conservation at ecosystem and genetic levels runs hand in hand with developing the genetic resource of native species and their expanding role as envisaged in the new forestry programme for the period 2014 – 2020.

Through the native woodland scheme (establishment and conservation) my Department is committed to promoting and encouraging the use of better adapted, home-collected forest reproductive material. To further progress this objective, the new draft Forestry Programme calls for new suitable seed stands to be identified and registered in the National Catalogue of Seed Stands. These seed stands may then be eligible for support under the Forest Genetic Reproductive Material Scheme where aid will be provided to improve the management and protection of these important sites. Existing registered seed stands from which seed is not currently being collected will also be eligible for this support. The objective of this scheme will be to increase production of quality seed leading to better adapted, more resilient and productive forests.

The detailed rules for the Forest Genetic Reproductive Material Scheme is currently being drafted and it is too early to state the exact terms and conditions of the scheme. However, there are clear benefits in having a forest management plan in place as part of having a registered seed stand.

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