AQW 3253/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 05/03/2020
Answered On Date: 23/03/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what actions are being considered to protect and restore carbon sinks, such as native bogland and wetland.

Answer:

We have a range of carbon-rich habitats in Northern Ireland which will play a key role in meeting our climate change commitments. These include wetland areas, such as blanket bog, lowland raised bog, fens and salt marshes, as well as native woodlands and semi-grasslands. We also need to consider our blue carbon, such as kelp and sea grasses. Putting in place the necessary protection and management ensures that these areas continue to act as carbon sinks, rather than become carbon sources.

My Department has been working to restore these habitats through a number of conservation programmes. The Environmental Farming Scheme supports farmers to manage these priority habitats to enhance biodiversity, carbon storage and flood alleviation potential. Conservation Management Plans are being developed for our Special Areas of Conservation which contain many of these carbon-rich habitats. Wetland habitats are being actively restored as part of the INTERREG Va programme. My Department’s afforestation strategy will make provision for the planting of native woodland which can help to restore our wooded areas.

Furthermore, officials are gathering evidence to inform future actions and potential policy interventions to safeguard and enhance natural carbon sinks in land and sea.