Leitrim is Ireland’s most forested county, but climate benefits are few and far between
Even though the county is already facing high costs associated with climate change, the council is unable to tackle some of the biggest offenders
Bird's eye view of a pine forest. Photo: Getty
Forestry in Leitrim flattened by Storm Éowyn. Photo: Teresa McVeigh
Suckler cattle are a major source of emissions in Leitrim. Photo: Getty
Destruction following Storm Éowyn. Photo: Save Leitrim/Facebook
Irish Independent Leitrim Forestry Eddie Michell photographed. Pic shows Each patch of Forestry represents a family lost to emigration Photo Brian Farrell
Irish Independent Leitrim Forestry Eddie Michell photographed. Pic shows Photo Brian Farrell
Irish Independent Leitrim Forestry Eddie Michell photographed. Pic shows Eddie Mitchell standing beside Sitka Spruce planted on deep Bog Photo Brian Farrell
Irish Independent Leitrim Forestry Eddie Michell photographed. Pic shows The reality of Leitrim Forestry. Photo Brian Farrell
Irish Independent Leitrim Forestry Eddie Michell photographed. Pic shows Sitka Spruce reseeding on deep bog Photo Brian Farrell
Leitrim might be Ireland’s least populated county, but the climate crisis has already cost it millions through a major landslide, severe storms, scores of wildfires and extensive flooding.
Leitrim County Council’s five-year Climate Action Plan outlines the risks and costs to communities caused by burning fossil fuels – and what the council is planning to do about it.
According to the action plan, heavy rainfall in June 2020 “led to a major landslide where 160,000 tonnes of peatland ‘slipped’ at Greaghnaglogh”, covering 43 hectares with debris, impacting 12 farmers, blocking local roads and costing up to €6.7m.
Flash flooding in August 2021 caused damage to the Ballinaglera bridge worth €150,000, while 2021’s Storm Barra and 2019’s Storm Hannah left hundreds without power.
Heavy rains in February 2020 burst the banks of the River Shannon, flooding Leitrim village and Carrick-on-Shannon, and leaving over 6,000 acres of farmland under water.
Extreme heat in summer 2021, when the mercury hit 29.8C in Ballinamore, damaged roads across the county. Fire services battled 12 wildfires in 2019, 57 in 2020 and 18 in 2021.
While trees are often touted as a climate benefit, Leitrim forests actually produce emissions
But climate projections for the county show there is even more extreme weather in store as temperatures rise by between 1.1C and 1.6C nationwide, making heatwaves and extreme rains more frequent and creating potential for a rise in “intense storms”.
Droughts are also on the cards, with the council highlighting that, “as the population ages, there will be an increase in the number of vulnerable people exposed”.
Leitrim, like every local authority in Ireland, has been asked to help stem what now seems like a steady flow of disasters and ward off the worst of what could happen if emissions are not cut.
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Work commissioned for the action plan found that 618,972 tonnes of greenhouse gases came from Leitrim in 2018. The council has to reduce that by 51pc by 2030.
The three biggest climate polluters were agriculture (43pc), transport (26pc) and residential (19pc). However, there is little Leitrim can do about climate pollution from agriculture or from the forests that cover a fifth of the county.
While trees are often touted as a climate benefit for their absorption of greenhouse gases, the sitka spruce plantations that make up over 60pc of Leitrim forests actually produce emissions when planted in drained peat.
They can also leave thousands without power when storms blow them down, knocking out power lines.
Councillor Eddie Mitchell, who sat on the climate committee during discussions for the action plan, said forestry got few mentions in the final text because there was limited information on land-use change and because, in 2019, forestry became “exempted development”. That means planning permission is not needed for its development. As a result, the council has no control over it.
“All permissions to do with forestry go through the Forest Service,” Mr Mitchell said. “Planting on peat is obviously doing harm. The local council should have a say in decision-making on forestry.”
While forestry certainly poses an issue, Leitrim faces its biggest challenge from agriculture, which accounts for almost half of the county’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing employ 7.2pc of Leitrim workers. The national average is 4pc. According to the action plan, these industries also make the county a “source of timber, fuel, fodder and fibre”, as well as biofuels.
About 89,719 hectares of the county’s mountainous north and relatively flat south are managed by 3,656 farms, with suckler cattle contributing the most to livestock emissions.
The council has said that, by 2027, it plans to “create a sustainable agriculture working group” and encourage “sustainable farm practices”, and will “consider feasibility of the integration of peatland soil maps with the council planning map systems to ... further prevent drainage and degradation of peatlands”.
Transport is Leitrim’s second biggest climate polluter. Private car use is responsible for over half of transport emissions and public transport is responsible for just 2.3pc. In a bid to cut emissions, the council plans to cut car use, improve public transport and support active travel with suitable infrastructure.
The county’s action plan also includes promoting the benefits of climate action in its decarbonising zone, Carrick-on-Shannon, where it plans to roll out a “town centre first” plan, study and increase active travel, improve energy efficiency in buildings, support social home retrofits and increase solar panel installation.
“We will need to transform how we generate energy and radically rethink how we live, travel, do business, produce goods and deal with our waste,” the plan states.
“In doing so, a host of benefits can be achieved … including warmer homes, vibrant and resilient communities, biodiversity-rich landscapes, improved health and wellbeing, new skills and jobs, and a thriving green local economy.”