Hedgerows could offset carbon emissions in future: report

An expansion in hedgerow and non-forest woodlands in Ireland could reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The report from Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that hedgerows and non-forest woodlands have the potential to take up to 3.3 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare out of Ireland's atmosphere each year.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, it would be possible in the future for Ireland to use the carbon sink activity of new hedgerows to offset carbon emissions elsewhere in the economy.

However, because of the way that the carbon reduction would be accounted for under EU and Kyoto rules, the net carbon reduction potential of Ireland's hedgerows would be significantly lower than that.

Nevertheless, it is still estimated that new Irish hedgerows could still contribute up to 17,000 tons of carbon reduction per year.