The potential climate mitigation and adaption potential of Irish hedgerows is to be measured by 2021.

As part of the Government’s climate action plan, current county-based hedgerow surveys by local authorities are to be extended nationwide.

Once a nationwide survey is completed by 2020, a study to quantify the carbon sequestration potential of hedgerows will be commissioned by 2021.

Hedgerows are currently estimated to cover 3.9% of the Irish landscape or 660,000km in length.

The climate action plan says total hedgerow area could represent a significant carbon sink and could be used as a mitigation option.

Potential sink

Minister Creed echoed this belief during an exchange in the Dáil with Independent TD Thomas Broughan.

Deputy Broughan said hedgerows could potentially sequester between one 10th and half a mega-tonne of CO2, which would “make a very significant contribution towards our overall mitigation figures”.

Minister Creed said his Department had facilitated the planting of around 11,000km of new hedgerows and the rejuvenation of 6,000km under successive agri-environment schemes.

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Regulations protecting hedgerows

Hedgerow carbon sink potential to be measured by 2021

Hedgerows are currently estimated to cover 3.9% of the Irish landscape, or 660,000km in length, and the Government aims to measure their potential to sequester carbon by 2021.