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Planting more trees is a natural and effective
flood control measure, the Government has been told.
It follows the failure of the country’s river
drainage systems to cope with the recent deluge which caused
devastation countrywide.
The Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA)
said forests can play a very important role in regulating
water flows - they reduce runoff and, therefore, the flood
levels of the streams and rivers flowing from forested areas.
"While hugely expensive schemes are often proposed
for flood control, we do have the economically viable option
of planting more forests as a natural and very effective flood
control measure. Well-planned afforestation and effective
management of existing woodlands offer a significant protective
function to adjoining waterways and groundwater catchments.
"This has positive implications for farmland,
the associated rural community and also the wider population
in the areas of flood control and wastewater treatment."
The ITGA said research has shown that even trees
as young as two years old make a perceptible difference to
the rate at which water drains into rivers. This effect increases
considerably with older trees.
Donal Whelan, technical director ITGA, said
that with only 10% of land area under forest, Ireland has
huge scope to plant more trees. "In addition to assisting
with flood control, forests also provide climate change benefits
by locking up carbon as well as providing employment and an
economic return to farmers," he said.
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