Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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207. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual afforestation target in the Forest Strategy implementation plan draft for public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57016/22]

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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208. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the difference in annual afforestation targets between that specified by an organisation (details supplied) and the draft forest strategy implementation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57017/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.

The COFORD Council is a stakeholder platform which advises my Department on issues related to the development of the forest sector in Ireland. In its recent report ‘Forests and wood products, and its importance in climate change mitigation’ COFORD advised that 16,000 ha of annual afforestation is required if Ireland is to achieve the government target of 18% forest cover by 2050.

As the Deputy may be aware, afforestation levels have been declining in recent years and Project Woodland was established in February 2021 to ensure that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. We have recently published a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. This Vision has informed a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland which has been developed by Working Group 2 of Project Woodland.

In parallel, a draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan has also been developed to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of the Forest Strategy. This Plan comprises a list of actions and measures and includes the Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027 which will be the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy in the immediate to short term. As the Deputy is aware, the draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan were published on Tuesday the 18th of October and are now subject to a 6-week public consultation process, which concludes on the 29th of November.

Supports are proposed in the next Forestry Programme to incentivise afforestation, with an annual target of 8,000ha broken down by indicative areas associated with each of the 12 proposed Forest Types. This is in line with the target of 8,000 hectares in the Climate Action Plan 2021, which is a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting Ireland on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050.

I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade. I am pleased to advise that I have secured a package of €1.318 billion for forestry which will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme ever in Ireland and which will allow us to offer new and improved rates to those who undertake planting and sustainable forest management under the new Programme. However, afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners. Any target that is set must be realistic and we have set an ambitious 8,000ha target which is a significant step up from existing levels achieved in recent years.