Written answers

Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Sector

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce legislation in order that all environmental guidelines including those relating to water quality will apply to afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30454/17]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Forestry Act 2014(the Act), which was commenced on the 24 May 2017, already includes provisions regarding the protection of the environment, creating closer integration with the Habitats Directive, the Water Framework Directive, the EIA Directive and transposing legislation.  Under Sections 5 and 11 of the Act, the role of the Minister in safeguarding the environment is set out. Section 7 provides for the attachment and varying of conditions to a licence or approval and also for the revocation of a licence. Sections 26-29 set out a range of penalties that can be imposed. These sections of the Act provide flexibility to the Minister in terms of attaching environmental conditions to an approval or licence and enforcing those conditions.

Together, the above provisions are designed to integrate the protection of the environment and legal requirements under various relevant Directives and transposing legislation, into the central decision-making process regarding licences, approvals and grants by the Department. This is reflected in the scope of the Act, as follows; “.... to make further and better provision in relation to forestry, to provide for the development and promotion of forestry in a manner that maximises the economic, environmental and social value of forests within the principles of sustainable forest management,....”.

In this context, the new Environmental Requirements for Afforestation document was introduced in December 2016. This document consolidated relevant environmental safeguards into a single coherent document dealing exclusively with afforestation, taking onboard more recent developments in relation to regulation, research and changes in forest practices. This document includes specific measures to ensure the protection of water quality when establishing new forests such as the introduction of new water features requiring setbacks.

The commitment of my Department to protecting and enhancing water quality and aquatic life is demonstrated by: (i) its operation of the Native Woodland Scheme, which includes a strong focus on the use of native woodland, both new and existing, in this regard; (ii) the Woodland for Water model; and (iii) the Felling and Reforestation Policy, which sets out measures that are available to ensure that forests are appropriately restructured post-clearfell, to reflect water and other environmental sensitivities on-the-ground.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.