Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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153. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a land use strategy is being developed within which aspirations for forestry for the protection of biodiversity, climate, renewables and for the bioeconomy could be evolved in a coherent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60852/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government committed to a land use review to inform future government policy. The way we manage our land plays an important role in the protection of biodiversity, climate change mitigation and the food we produce.

Land use policy also plays a crucial role in land use diversification. Increasing the area of forestry will be crucial in increasing the amounts of carbon dioxide removed through sequestration. Increasing the area of forestry will also provide significant opportunities in producing renewable biomass for heat and will contribute to the growing bioeconomy. 

Land use is a crucial climate mitigation and adaptation measure available to Ireland, but there are significant challenges to be overcome to maximise the potential contribution from land use. In considering Ireland’s land use, the National Land Use Review is taking account of a wide range of factors such ownership, environmental, social and economic considerations. It will also take account of the range of emissions from different land uses and how they impact on the Land Use, Land Use Change and forestry sector, known as LULUCF.    

The review is being carried out in two distinct phases with Phase 1 due for completion this year.  The work is being carried out with the support of a Land Evidence Forum chaired by the Environmental Protection Agency and the oversight of a Land Use Review Steering Committee co-chaired by my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Phase 1 of the Land Use Review is almost complete and will provide an evidence base to determine the environmental, ecological, and economic characteristics of land types across Ireland. Phase 2 will build on Phase 1 with a focus on policies, measures and actions.

Policies on land use can have an impact on the amount of land being used for different purposes. Increasing the area of forestry will impact on the area of land in other activities and government policy is to significantly increase the area of forestry from 11.6 % to 18% forest cover.

The new Forestry Programme recently announced for 2023-2027 will see funding of €1.3 billion assigned to a range of measures targeted at increasing the rate of afforestation.

A new Forestry Strategy to 2030 will also see other measures targeted at harnessing the significant opportunities from our existing forests and the positive impacts they will have in producing harvested wood products, renewables and the growing bioeconomy.

The land use strategy will also play an important role in the implementation of the Forestry Strategy as land use options are considered.