Written answers

Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Climate Action Plan

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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569. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he intends to meet the Climate Action Plan action number 343 to promote the role of afforestation as a climate solution; the number of hectares planted on public and private land in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22265/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The overall afforestation target as contained in the Climate Action Plan 2021 is 8,000 hectares.

My Department offers a wide range of options and generous grants and annual premiums for landowners.  We provide support funding to groups involved in forestry promotion, highlighting that forestry is good for the economy, good for the environment and good for the individual.  We are currently engaging with Coillte on further planting opportunities on public lands. There are 12 afforestation Schemes at present in operation and a full list of those are available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/73aea-schemes-and-services-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/#forestry.  We will also develop measures under the next CAP to encourage farm forestry and we will be developing a new forestry programme in the next year which will focus on meeting this target.

We currently have the highest level of forest estate in over 350 years. – a 11% of land area in Ireland. This is credit to the large number of land owners, forest workers and foresters that have made this happen.  Increased afforestation is being addressed through a number of initiatives within Project Woodland and the Forestry Policy Group, consisting of representatives from the Department, Teagasc, the environmental pillar and the Forestry Sector. The objective of the COFORD Promotion and Afforestation Working Group (PAW), also consisting of representatives from the various stakeholder groups is to promote forestry including the implementation of measures to sustain and increase afforestation. Teagasc runs a promotion campaign in conjunction with, and partially funded by, DAFM to increase awareness levels and promote the multiple benefits associated with forestry.

The table below shows the 2020, 2021 and up until the 22 April 2022 of granted licences along with the hectares of same.  Then the total numbers planted which is broken down between private and public hectares.



Year
Afforestation Licences granted Hectares of Afforestation licences granted Total Hectares planted Private Hectares planted Public Hectares planted
2020 528 4,342 2,435 2,435 0
2021 502 4,246 2,016 2,016 0
To 22/04/2022 187 1,321 783.63 779.3 4.33
It is clear that there is a low conversion rate and this is a challenge.  Every unused hectare is a waste of resources that should not happen. There are currently 5,200 ha in the system, which have a valid approval, but have not gone ahead to planting.  We have written to applicants with unused licences to remind them that their licence is still valid and to encourage them to consider using them before their approval lapses.

With regard to the even lower conversion rate on public lands my Department launched the Creation of Woodlands on Public Land Scheme (CWPL), in August 2020. The purpose of this Scheme is to encourage Public Bodies to establish new native woodlands on suitable bare land. This aim is consistent with the Programme for Government, which sought to “embark on an ambitious programme of afforestation on state-owned lands”. 

More needs to be done in terms of increasing the levels of sustainable afforestation but we must acknowledge the contribution of this existing resource to climate change mitigation.

Communication and positive messaging about the benefits of afforestation is crucial. On most farms, planting can comfortably co-exist with livestock enterprises and can significantly increase the net income from the holding. We must work together to communicate this positive message consistently to both farmers and public bodies.

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, my priority this year is to deliver on the ambition outlined in the Licencing Plan and to issue 5,250 licences, meeting the projected targets for each category of licence, including afforestation, within that.

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