Written answers
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Forestry Sector
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the sources of information, and if the information was peer reviewed, that led to the development of the new bird and bird foraging layers on IForIS, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8693/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department use several sources of data to safeguard protected bird species, in carrying out its functions in deciding on afforestation licence applications.
The following table details the sources used to generate the new bird related layers on iFORIS.
| - | Layer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hen Harrier Red Areas (HLNAs) layer (Layer not available on iNET, due to its confidential nature) | High Likelihood of Nesting Area (HLNA) dataset supplied by NPWS to DAFM for use under its Forestry & Hen Harrier Potential Disturbance Protocol for SPAs. Dataset includes records held by NPWS (including national survey results) and year-on-year data collected under the Hen Harrier EIP Project (now closed).A buffer is added to this data by my Department. |
| 2 | Hen Harrier Current Breeding Distributions and Ranges (Article 12) layer | This information is compiled by NPWS published and submitted to the European Commission, as required under Article 12 of the Birds Directive. |
| 3 | Breeding Curlew (Layer not available on iNET, due to its confidential nature) | Datasets of nest sites forwarded by NPWS to DAFM, including, records from the 2021 National Survey, records from 2022 and 2023 from the NPWS-DAFM co-funded Curlew Conservation Programme; and data previously provided by NPWS, containing records from 2015 to 2020.A buffer is added by my Department |
| 4 | Breeding Farmland Waders Hotspots Layer plus underlining species-specific layers | Based on Breeding Farmland Wader Hotspots (85th percentile) map (Figure 9) and associated single-species maps, from BirdWatch Ireland’s Farmland Bird Hotspot Mapping (Phase 2) Project Report (29 August 2022). Published by BirdWatch Ireland under a project part funded by my Department. |
| 5 | Farmland Birds Hotspot layer | Based on the Farmland Bird Hotspots (85th percentile) map (Figure 7) from BirdWatch Ireland’s Farmland Bird Hotspot Mapping (Phase 2) Project Report (29 August 2022). Published by BirdWatch Ireland under a project part funded by my Department. |
IFORIS contains many layers from various sources. Peer review is normally used to examine an academic paper prior to it being published. The map data used in IFORIS are not subject to the peer review process.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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368. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are peat type lands now excluded from afforestation, including the native tree area scheme due to concerns of carbon emission which are being farmed intensively within the dairy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8694/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Emissions for agriculture and all land types depend on a wide variety of factors. Some lands such as grasslands on mineral soils remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere compared to grasslands on peat soils. The types of animals grazing lands will also contribute to the overall emission profile for each farm enterprise which can be significantly different.
My Department when assessing the merits of afforestation examines the impact of trees and the soils they are planted on. It does not examine emission profiles of different farming enterprises to compare against forestry projects to determine which is more favorable. The decision to licence an afforestation approval takes into account a wide variety of factors which include the presence of habitats, archeology, soil types and aquatic zones.
As outlined in Irelands Climate Action Plan there is a requirement to reduce emissions across all sectors and to take actions that include reducing emissions both from agriculture and all types of land.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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369. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide all peer reviewed research reports his Department relied upon in defining what peat types are plantable under the new forestry programme; the reports that specify the differences between native woodland afforestation and conifer afforestation which support his Department’s position regarding same in the new forestry programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8718/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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, the amount that will be offset by the removals from the growing trees and other environmental considerations.
The table below highlights the main reports used to inform the decision on peat as outlined in Irelands forestry programme for the period 2023 to 2027.
| EPA 2023. National inventory report Greenhouse gas emissions 1990 – 2022. Reported to the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change, EPA, Dublin |
|---|
| Black.,K.,Byrne, K., D, McInerny, Landy, J. (2022) Forests for Climate: Report on Carbon Modelling of the Coillte Estate. ( not peer reviewed, but based on a number of peer reviewed research papers) |
| Jovani-Sancho, A.J., Cummins, T., Byrne, K.A. 2021 Soil carbon balance of afforested peatlands in the maritime temperate climatic zone. Global change biology. |
| Hargreaves, K. J., Milne, R. & Cannell, M. G. R. 2003. Carbon balance of afforested peatland in Scotland. Forestry, 76: 299-317. |
| Houlihan, T., Black, K. 2020. Climate mitigation options through afforestation. Irish Forestry Vol 77:136-142. |
With regard to the planting of native woodland and conifer within the current Forestry programme, the planting of native broadleaved species on modified fen peats in agricultural use where no additional drainage takes place is permitted. These modified fen peats sites generally have a higher nutrient status than other types of peats such as blanket bogs. The decision to allow planting on modified fen peats in agricultural use 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.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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370. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update regarding the effectiveness of the NTA scheme in promoting forestry among farmers and landowners, given its financial attraction and efficient approval process (details supplied); the reasons for the low uptake; his plans to address and improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8719/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 contains a new Native Tree Area Scheme, which allows for the creation of forests of up to 1 hectare without an afforestation licence, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme.
Within the scheme, two different interventions are available to applicants. NTA 1 supports the establishment of new native forests on farmed land, thereby contributing to Ireland’s targets in relation to a wide range of environmental priorities particularly climate change and biodiversity. NTA 2 supports the establishment of new native forests for water protection, that can be used to deliver ecosystem services that protect and enhance water quality alongside aquatic ecosystems.
The scheme opened for applications on 4th October 2023 and to date 88 applications, covering 91ha have been approved under this scheme. In addition, 52 valid applications totalling 57ha are currently being processed by my Department.
My Department will continue to closely monitor this scheme in conjunction with stakeholders over the duration of this Programme. We are hosting a training event for registered foresters in the coming weeks, which will address general queries surrounding eligibility and other terms and conditions.
We will continue to encourage farmers to consider the Scheme as a complementary activity to another farming enterprise with premiums of up to €22,840 for 10 years.
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