115 / 234
111
Chapter 7: Land and Soil
broadleaf planting as a proportion of total afforestation
increased from 23% in 2003 to 31% in 2012. The latest
edition of Ireland’s Forests’ Annual Statistics Report
(DAFM,
2015b), indicates that broadleaf afforestation currently
comprises approximately 23% of all afforestation. Figure
7.3 shows the change in national forest area up to 2014.
Soil Health
Soil health is important nationally for a range of
functions.
Healthy soil provides us with clean air, food and water,
supports ecosystem services, the growth of plant and
animal life and provides the foundations for human
habitats and structures. The threats to soils under current
land use, management and climate conditions are low
by international standards (EPA, 2014d). Soils can act as
barriers to subsurface contamination. Where geological
bedrock is exposed or soils are thin, the potential exists for
pollutants to permeate deeper into the ground and have
wider impacts on aspects such as groundwater quality.
The EU Seventh Environment Action Programme
(which
came into force in 2014) commits Member States to
increase efforts to reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic
matter and remediate contaminated sites by 2020 (EC,
2013).
The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (WFD)
and the Floods Directive (2007/EC/60) create planning
mechanisms that can support actions to improve soil
quality and combat land degradation, including measures
to put green infrastructure in place (EEA, 2016).
There is little specific legislation relating to soil protection in
Ireland, apart from that for key habitats/ecosystems associated
with peat soils and site-specific regulation linked to industrial
and waste facilities. However, the 2011 Environment Impact
Assessment Regulations for On-Farm Development include
requirements for environmental impact assessments for
soil operations. In addition, the European Communities
(Environmental Liabilities) Regulations 2008 establish an
environmental liability framework based on the “polluter
pays” principle to prevent and remedy environmental damage,
including damage on, in and under land.
Soil Biodiversity
Biodiversity of soil plays a wider role in our
environment.
Approximately one-quarter of all living species live in our
soils (e.g. fungi, bacteria and invertebrates). They play
a crucial role in regulation of the atmosphere, water
quantity and water quality, pest and disease incidences in
agriculture, natural ecosystems and human diseases. Soil
biodiversity provides for food production, pollution control
and development of pharmaceuticals.
Soil organic matter has a key role in maintaining
soil functionality, water and air quality and carbon
sequestration. Proper land use management is essential
to prevent soil-stored carbon being released into the
atmosphere, where it would contribute to climate change.
Continuous tillage practices may also reduce soil organic
matter content; to address this, the DAFM produced
guidelines in 2010 to implement sustainable agricultural
management practices.
Drivers and Pressures
Changes in Land Use and Land Cover
Some important changes over the past two decades.
Land is subject to many, often competing, sectoral
demands. National policies, such as in forestry,
agriculture, peatlands and the built environment,
influence land use change and resource management.
The effects of poor land use management practices
can be particularly evident in aquatic ecosystems
(e.g. siltation and nutrient runoff and spread of invasive
species). Between 1990 and 2012, the amount of
forestry increased (due to afforestation programmes)
and wetland areas decreased by 2.95% (due to
extraction in peatlands, agricultural drainage, etc.).
Significant urbanisation also occurred between 1990
and 2006; however, between 2006 and 2012, the
rate of urbanisation decreased significantly (reflecting
the economic downturn). Urbanisation is expected to
increase again with continued economic recovery.
Both single rural housing and suburban growth can both
impact on soils and landscape and need to be carefully
managed. Ireland has adopted a “core strategy approach”
to the development of settlements with the adoption
of the Regional Planning Guidelines (2010‑2022). The
benefits of a core strategy development approach are
also recognised at EU level. The European Environment
Agency has stated that “compact urban development and
resource efficient approaches to the built-environment can
provide opportunities to alleviate environmental pressures
and enhance human wellbeing and also protect from the
impacts of climate change” (EEA, 2015).