Written answers

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Sector

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

623. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the growth of sustainably managed commercial forestry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/21]

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

624. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the planting of spruce for sustainably managed commercial forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37516/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 623 and 624 together.

Sustainable Forest Management is the cornerstone of forest policy in Ireland and recognises the importance of balancing the  economic, environmental and social functions of forests. Ireland's forests amount to over 770,000 hectares, or about 11% of the land area of Ireland. These forests comprise a wide variety of species from native broadleaves to commercial conifers. All trees contribute to providing important ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, recreational access in public forests but also provide important renewable materials such as timber and wood products. 

According to the Department's National Forest Inventory, approximately 71.2% of the forests in Ireland consist of conifer forests with broadleaves amounting to 28.2%. Conifer species provide the main material for the building of homes, providing renewable energy and support over 12,000 jobs. The national forest inventory (NFI) also finds that Sitka spruce is the main conifer species at 51%, with a range of other species also recorded. Sitka spruce has proved to be an excellent timber species and provides the majority of material for the sawmilling and panel board mills in Ireland and contributes to the sustainable economic functions of forests. However, diversification of species is important and the Department continues to provides a range of financial incentives to increase the amount of other conifers and broadleaves planted. 

The Forestry Act 2014 and the regulation of afforestation and felling activities also supports the sustainable management of forests by creating new forests and replanting when forests are harvested. The balance between how much forests grow each year and how much is harvested is an important indicator of sustainable forest management.   Ireland's NFI demonstrates that the national forest estate is not harvesting more timber than the forest can produce. 

Ireland is also committed to the sustainable management of forests and is a signatory to the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, known as Forest Europe.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.