The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security will discuss sustainable forestry and carbon off-setting with a number of forestry groups at its meeting today, Wednesday 24th November. Among those attending the meeting are: John McCarthy, None SoHardy Nurseries; Brendan Lacy, Irish Timber Growers Association; and Pat Hennessy, chairman of IFA Farm Forestry Group.
Carbon sequestration is the process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is taken up by trees and other plants through photosynthesis and stored as carbon in biomass and soils. Sustainable forestry practices can increase the ability of forests to sequester atmospheric carbon while enhancing other ecosystem services, such as improved soil and water quality. Planting new trees and improving forest health through thinning are some of the ways to increase forest carbon in the long run. Harvesting and replanting forests can also result in net carbon sequestration in wood products and new forest growth.
The meeting will provide the Committee with an opportunity to get the perspective of a number of forestry organisations on sustainable forestry and how forest carbon sequestration can offset sources of carbon dioxide and help reduce our carbon footprint.
“The Committee has already met with representatives from Coillte to discuss the issue of sustainable forestry and carbon off-setting and we are looking forward to our meeting with these groups which are involved in forestry enterprises,” says chairman of the Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, Dinny McGinley, TD.