LULUCF Regulation 2018/841/EU - Ireland's Forest Reference Level and National Accounting Plan

The Forest Reference Level (FRL) and National Forest Accounting Plan (NFAP) will be submitted under Article 8 of “Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework, and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU”, commonly referred to as the LULUCF Regulation.

The FRL represents an estimate of the average annual net emissions and removals resulting from managed forest land within the territory of a Member State in the periods from 2021 to 2025 based on the continuation of sustainable forest management practice, as documented in the period from 2000 to 2009 with regard to dynamic age-related forest characteristics, using the best available data. The document was prepared in line with the “Criteria and guidance for determining forest reference level” and “Elements of the national forestry accounting plan” sub-sections of Annex IV of the Regulation.

The European Commission (EC), in consultation with experts appointed by the Member States, will undertake a technical assessment of the NFAP during 2019. The EC will also consult stakeholders and the results of the technical assessment will be published. Subject to the technical assessment and any subsequent revisions, the FRL for 2021 to 2025 will be adopted by 31st October 2020. An additional FRL will be developed for the 2026-2030 accounting period and submitted by 30th June 2023. The final document will be published in 2020.

The NFAP can be downloaded here.