The devastating impacts of the recent cyclone Idai underlines the severe consequences for vulnerable parts of the world from extreme weather events which are increasing in frequency and intensity. Last week, UN secretary general António Guterres called for “revved up climate action”.

Closer to home, the recent publication of the Oireachtas report of the joint committee on climate action is a significant development for climate policy in Ireland, representing a cross-party consensus for action.

The report is welcome in that it acknowledges the role that forests play in climate change mitigation, though some of the issues and concerns raised in the report on species selection and forest management are difficult to grasp given the range of measures in the current forestry programme that support species diversification, native woodlands and biodiversity enhancement.

Further teasing out of these and other issues related to climate-change mitigation by forests would be very welcome. In the wider context of ongoing debate, the forest policy document Forests, products and people, and the accompanying analysis should not be overlooked. It has recently been reviewed by a COFORD-led stakeholder group; the report is available at www.coford.ie.

Whatever your perspective, innovative thinking and measures will be needed to increase buy-in to afforestation by farmers and communities. The agri-food sector could well be a catalyst in this space, particularly in a world increasingly concerned with global warming and climate change.

Global warming relative to pre-industrial times has been caused by a buildup of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere as a result of human activity.

The science supporting this statement has recently been reviewed and updated in the excellent and thought-provoking special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) titled Global warming of 1.5°C.

The message is clear: “… rapid and far-reaching transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities” are necessary to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5oC, in line with the Paris Agreement.

Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide need to reach net zero around 2050. “This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing carbon dioxide from the air.”

Removing means human activity such as enhancing forest carbon sinks. Constraining temperature rise will also entail reductions in emissions of other greenhouse gases, including methane.

Trees and forests are highly efficient at removing carbon dioxide from the air. About one-third of annual carbon dioxide emissions at a global level are taken up by forests and other vegetation, to be used in plant growth and development, and stored in wood, leaves, roots and soil.

Frequently called carbon sequestration, this greenhouse gas removal process, the carbon sink, is now part of the policy mix to address global warming.

Tackling emissions

It goes hand-in-hand with tackling emissions from deforestation, which together with emissions from agriculture account for about one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.

So, what do these considerations mean for the actuality of forestry and climate change mitigation in Ireland? Last year agreement was reached on EU climate change legislation, setting out the union’s contribution to the goals agreed in Paris in 2015.

The new legislation sets binding greenhouse gas emission reductions for the period 2021 to 2030, with Ireland having a target to achieve a 30% reduction on 2005 emission levels by 2030.

From the forestry and land use perspective, the most important development and game-changer is that for the first time EU climate change legislation will now cover the full range of greenhouse gas emissions and removals (sequestration) from forestry, as well as managed cropland and grassland, and from 2026 managed wetland. Net removals resulting from afforestation and soil carbon can be used to count towards a member state’s reduction commitment. (The net means that should any emissions be accounted from other specified land uses they must be subtracted to arrive at the net amount.) This new carbon accounting framework provides a clear and unambiguous incentive to continue to support afforestation, and is major positive for Ireland, the forest sector and the climate.

The new legislation also emphasises the need to practise what we preach on controlling and reversing global forest loss.

Accounting for emissions from deforestation accords with the greenhouse gas inventory protocols of the United Nations’ Framework on Change and the IPCC. In the Irish context, these fundamentals mean replanting after clearfelling.

The legislation also refers to the need for forestry mitigation measures to be in coherence with the objectives of the EU’s biodiversity strategy, and further underpins the biodiversity and water quality measures that are now an essential requirement for forestry grant aid.

The total net removals that the legislation allows Ireland to use for compliance for the period 2021 to 2030 are 26.8m tonnes of carbon dioxide. Afforestation, net of projected deforestation, is expected to contribute 20m tonnes of carbon dioxide to that total. The actualities of forestry and climate change therefore point clearly to the need to substantially increase the level of afforestation, and move it to a level of 7,000ha to 10,000ha per annum over the entire period to mid-century and beyond.

While most of the compliance carbon in the 2021-2020 decade will come from afforestation that predates 2021, raising the afforestation level will make an additional contribution, and as emission reductions become increasingly more difficult and costly it makes a lot of sense to think long term.

Dr Eugene Hendrick has been involved in forests and climate change science, policy and UN climate negotiations since 2000. He has recently joined SmartEarth, the climate change and sustainable development consultancy. See www.smartearth.ie

Irish and Scottish ministers lead speakers at May conference

The lineup of speakers for this year’s national forestry conference in Johnsown House Hotel, Enfield, Co Meath, has been finalised. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and Minister of State Andrew Doyle – along with Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment – will address the conference topic “Forestry as a Climate Change Solution”.

These are exciting times for forestry in Scotland, which Minister Gougeon will discuss. Last week, the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act came into effect, completing the devolution of forestry to Scotland. Referring recently to the Forestry Strategy for Scotland, she emphasised its long-term approach “so that we grow trees now which will meet the future”.

Minister Creed will emphasise the role of forestry and agriculture while Minister Doyle will stress the need for a balanced forestry programme including economic, biodiversity and carbon sequestration benefits. While he has introduced a number of major native woodland schemes, he will discuss the benefits of commercial forestry including Sitka spruce, which he says is highly efficient in sequestering and storing carbon and provides wood products that continue to store carbon”.

Eight major presentation will be aimed at stakeholders in forestry, agriculture, industry and climate change.

Land use

Justin McCarthy, editor and chief executive of the Irish Farmers Journal, will deliver a presentation on rethinking land use. His talk will include the contribution of forestry as a viable land use in marginal land in meeting climate change targets.

Prof Gerry Boyle, Teagasc director, will discuss the actuality of climate change in agriculture – forestry the new reality.

They are joined by Stuart Goodall, CEO, Confederation of Forest Industries UK; Marina Conway, FII, in Ibec, ITGA council and CEO Western Forestry Co-op; Mike Haslam, award-winning architect with Haslam & Co Architects; and Des O’Toole, president, IrBEA and Coillte.

The conference takes place on 30 May 2019 in Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, Co Meath. The registration fee is €100 to include meals and conference booking.

Further details

Further information is available from Pat O’Sullivan, Society of Irish Foresters. Email info@soif.ie or call 086-258 2240.

Planting incentives still attractive

Although the afforestation programme continues to fall, the planting option on marginal land is still proving attractive as Teagasc staff outline. Grants up to €6,220/ha cover all establishment costs. Annual tax-free premium payments of €680 are available for native woodland schemes. Since the introduction of the 30% broadleaf requirement, an average annual premium of around €600/ha for a conifer-broadleaf crop is achievable.