To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what percentage of Northern Ireland’s afforested land is currently located on deep peat sites; (ii) what proportion of these sites have been earmarked for open ground restoration; and (iii) whether these deep peatland sites will be replanted following harvesting.

The estimated area of afforested land on peat more than half a metre deep is 38 000 hectares (or 32% of Northern Ireland’s afforested land).

In relation to forests managed by DAERA’s Forest Service, an area of approximately 580 hectares, or around 2% of afforested peat sites, has been identified and prioritised within a strategy for restoring peatland habitats. Statistics are not available for non-Forest Service managed woodland.

Forest Service management plans currently indicate that a further 2200 hectares (approximately 8%) of afforested peatland will not be replanted following harvesting, in line with its revised forest design plans.