Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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455. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail, in tabular form, the peer reviewed research reports his Department relied upon in the definition of organo mineral soil and the maximum depth of 30 cm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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456. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail, in tabular form, the peer reviewed research reports which prove that native woodlands sequester more carbon on peat soils that conifers, taking account of the full life cycle of the timber used in construction, etc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7668/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.

Forests play a significant role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and play an important role in storing carbon in harvested wood products. Assessing a sites suitability for afforestation must take into consideration the loss of carbon from soils and the amount that will be offset by the removals from the growing trees. Under the Forestry Programme (2023-2027), the afforestation of organic mineral soils in agricultural use can take place where the peat depth is 30 cm or less. The decision to use this depth threshold is based mainly on the National greenhouse gas inventory report (EPA, 2023) and taking into account research funded by my Department on afforested peatlands.

The table below highlights the main reports used to inform the decision on peat and the peat depth threshold.

Eligibility of sites must also consider the existing natural vegetation growing on a site that is indicative of a site’s fertility and is outlined in my Departments publication; Land Types for Afforestation.

In relation to comparing the sequestration capacity of native forests to conifer forests, one has to consider a number of factors. All forests, both conifer and broadleaves, sequester carbon dioxide but the overall carbon balance will depend on many factors. Conifers generally sequester carbon dioxide at a faster rate than broadleaves on similar soils. However, over the long term, the total amount removed from the atmosphere is similar (Houlihan and Black, 2020). Conifers have the capacity to generate more harvested wood products over the short term than broadleaves. However, it is important to note that forests provide multiple objectives in addition to carbon sequestration.

A decision was taken in the current programme to allow the planting of native species on modified fen peats in agricultural use where no additional drainage takes place. This is partly in recognition that some of these sites would naturally regenerate with broadleaves if left undisturbed, and also acknowledges the importance of biodiversity. Planting conifers on similar sites would require drainage and research has shown that the carbon balance of conifer stands on peat sites is initially a net removal but there is a gradual transition to a net emission after 1-3 rotations (Black et al., 2022; Hargreaves et al., 2003).

It is clear that emissions from forests on peatlands are complex and more research is required. My Department will continue to fund research on assessing the carbon emissions from forests growing on peat soils to better inform our understanding of emissions into the future.