Commercial forestry can incorporate broadleaves and diverse conifers to provide both wood and non-wood benefits
Investment in forestry over the next five years will have a big impact on the environment, as it will result in the planting of 600,000 ha in Europe, according to Dermot Ryan, Senior Advisor to European Commissioner Phil Hogan.
Speaking at the Coillte Climate Change and Irish Forestry Conference in Dublin, he said that forestry is a key sector to allow Europe to move towards a low carbon and carbon-friendly environment.
Ryan said that the European Commission has been working to give forestry policy an unprecedented degree of centrality to climate change policy decisions.
He also discussed details of a multi-annual plan for forestry, which involves an investment of over €7 billion in public funds, as part of the Rural Development Envelope.
“Half of this spending will primarily aimed at ecosystem services. Around third on targets promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift towards a low-carbon and climate resilient economy.
“This is vital because three-fifths of European forests are privately owned and the sector employs over 3m people,” he said.
He also said that this investment, which will take place over a five-year period will provide both practical and environmental outcomes.
“More than 600,000ha of new forests are foreseen under the plan, contributing to the mitigation of climate change and promotion of biodiversity,” he said.
Ryan also said that this short-to-medium term support is being matched by significant investments in research.
He said that under Horizon 2020 there is €3.8 billion being invested in projects related to forestry, sustainable agriculture and the bio-economy.
“A further €9 billion is earmarked for research and development in energy efficiency and climate action, including many projects which relate specifically to climate smart forestry,” he said.
(Source – Agriland – Sean Cummins – 28/02/2016)
Planting just uplands is not enough to combat carbon emissions
Planting the upper lands of Ireland is not enough to combat Ireland’s carbon emissions when farmers on the lower lands are increasing production, according to Oisin Coughlan
The Director of Friends of the Earth Ireland spoke at the Coillte Climate Change and Irish Forestry Conference in Dublin recently.
Coughlan said that emissions from agriculture are a serious concern and there are not enough carbon sinks to combat the losses to the environment.
Fires have destroyed over 1,500ha of forests annually in the past with losses of 700,000 cubic metres in future timber production.
He also said that is is difficult to put in place an effective carbon sink and this is a problem right across the world.
There is also a significant amount of carbon lost from Ireland’s heath lands on an annual basis through the burning of turf, he said.
Carbon emissions from peat extraction account for 3.4m tonnes.
Coughlan said that the current model of forestry in Ireland is based too much on single variety planting of spruce and clear felling.
This had significant impacts. Historically 40% of Irish soils were grown on peat lands and disturbance to the soil increases carbon emissions, he said.
There are also biodiversity impacts caused by clear felling and spruce plantings.
From a biodiversity perspective, we have serious concerns about the model of forestry in Ireland.
“If the pressure comes on the government to increase forestry production we would have serious concerns to where it would bring us.
“We think the future needs to be somewhat different. We need to look at much greater species diversity.”
He also said that the industry should look at continuous cover forestry instead of clear felling as these systems can improve the delivery of biodiversity objectives.
(Source – Agriland – Sean Cummins – 29/02/2016)
SAFE-first-year-report-WP9-annex1
Related Articles:
Forestry The Feel Good Alternative Investment
Forestry Proposal For 1.8m Hectares Of Marginal Land
Farmers Advised To Be Vigilant As Risk Of Forest Fire Increases With Drier Weather
Department Warns Farmers Caught Burning Outside The Legal Season May Face Payment Cuts