Forestry & Energy Review - Vol 4 Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2014

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:18

Page 1

FIRE MANAGEMENT MEANS LAND MANAGEMENT >> SEE PAGE 28

GETTING TIMBER TO MARKET

COILLTE

>> SEE PAGE 36

>> SEE PAGE 46

CALLS FOR RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE

Forestry&Energy Volume 4 Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2014 Price €3.95. £2.95 (Stg)

R E V I E W

THE VOICE OF FORESTRY & RENEWABLE ENERGY

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:18

Page 2

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 3

Foreword/Contents/Credits

Forestry&Energy R E V I E W

Volume 4 Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2014

28

Features

Foreword

24 GROW YOUR OWN FIREWOOD IN AS LITTLE AS 8 YEARS WITH EUCALYPTUS SHORT ROTATION FORESTRY

W

elcome to the new edition of Forestry and Energy Review Magazine.

In this edition, Ciaran Nugent of the Forest Service explains that developing improved fire resilience requires better partnership and an understanding of how land management strategies affect fire regimes, while Dr. Ellen O’ Connor from Teagasc discusses a sustainable supply of improved,adapted and healthy seed for Irish Forestry.

Forestry contributes towards reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuel imports, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and improving domestic fuel security.

Des O’Toole, Biomass Development Manager for Coillte explains.

Also, Dr. Ian Short and Jerry Campion from Teagasc Forestry Development outline that the last two decades have seen a dramatic increase in the area of broadleaf afforestation in Ireland, while Marie Doyle, UCD Forestry reports on Getting Timber to Market with information from the SIMWOOD project.

This edition also includes a selection of other features and profiles including: Husqvarna,Wood–Mizer, Exac-One, Treemetrics, D–Plant Horticulure and ForestSales.ie We trust you enjoy reading this publication which will continue to provide a voice for the Forestry and Energy sectors.

You can also download this latest edition electronically to your computer, iPad and smartphone.

Simply type in the following link www.selectmedialtd.com/feremag.html

D–Plant Horticulture–Leading the way to sustainable fuel, writes Brendan Doyle.

28 FIRE MANAGEMENT MEANS LAND MANAGEMENT

36

Developing improved fire resilience requires better partnership and understanding of how land management strategies affect fire regimes. Ciaran Nugent, of the Forest Service reports.

32 BIRCH AND ALDER The development of a sustainable supply of improved, adapted and healthy seed for Irish forestry, writes Dr. Ellen O'Connor, Birch and Alder Improvement Programme, Teagasc.

36 GETTING TIMBER TO MARKET Marie Doyle, UCD Forestry reports with information from the SIMWOOD project.

42

42 BROADLEAF AFFORESTATION The last two decades have seen a dramatic increase in the area of broadleaf afforestation in Ireland. Dr. Ian Short and Jerry Campion,Teagasc Forestry Development Dept., report.

46 COILLTE CALLS FOR RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE (RHI) Forestry contributes towards reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuel imports, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and improving domestic fuel security. Des O’Toole, Biomass Business Development Manager for Coillte explains.

46

Profiles 4 John Deere Forestry

Until the next time………

20 Husqvarna

The Publishers Forestry & Energy Review

22 Wood–Mizer 26 Exac–One 40 Treemetrics 50 ForestSales.ie

Publishers: Denis Lane and Robert Heuston Enquiries: Editorial: Denis Lane Advertising: James Small Design: John Barrett Production: Emma Meade

Contributors: Jacob Mooney,Brendan Doyle (D–Plant Horticultre), Ciaran Nugent (Forestry Inspector and Fire Management Specialist,The Forest Service), Marie Doyle (UCD Forestry), Dr. Ian Short (Teagasc), Dr. Ellen O' Connor (Teagasc), Jerry Campion (Teagasc), Des O' Toole (Coillte), Andy Walsh (Husqvarna)

Distribution: Easons, Newspread,WNS Published by: Select Media Ltd, 26 Clare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Tel. + 353 1 6622266 Fax. + 353 1 6624981 Email. info@selectmedialtd.com

All material contained in this edition is copyright of Forestry and Energy Review 2014 and may not be reproduced or electronically stored without the permission of the publisher. However items may be freely reproduced provided the source is acknowledged. Content and views expressed in the publication do not necessarily represent those of the publishers.

3

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 4

1270E IT4 8WD

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 5

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 6

FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS OVER 500 FOREST OWNERS ATTEND TIMBER MARKETING EVENTS IN LIMERICK & LEITRIM The Teagasc Forestry Development Department, in association with the Forest Service and the Irish timber industry, held two regional Timber Marketing Days in Templeglantine, Co Limerick and Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim on September 10th and 12th, 2013. More than five hundred forest owners with forests coming up for thinning attended one of these two events.The forest and timber processing sector also responded strongly to the invitation to participate. Over forty trade stands were present at these events, enabling private forest owners to engage and build linkages with the sector.

Dr Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, head of Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department commented on these Talking Timber events:“Both events were outstanding successes with over 500 forest owners

September 10th & 12th 2013: Over 500 forest owners attended timber marketing events in Limerick and Leitrim. These events facilitated the development of linkages between forest owners and the timber processing sector. Feedback from the events is very positive. Both events were organised by Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department.

6

approaching thinning attending. It was most encouraging to see the level of interaction between forest owners and the wide range of organisations and companies across the timber processing sector.

She added “This exemplifies how Teagasc can successfully interact with industry to the benefit of our farm forestry clients.These timber marketing events have facilitated the development of linkages between the forest owners and the processing sector and feedback from the events is extremely positive.”

Each event started with an outdoor demonstration on behalf of the Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association.The outdoor demonstration in Templeglantine was presented by Richard Latimer of Glennon’s sawmill while John Ryan of Murray’s sawmill provided participants with an understanding of the quality of timber required by Irish sawmills.They also described the best way to ensure such quality.

The outdoor sessions were followed by short, concise presentations from Teagasc, a local Harvesting Contractor, a local Forest Management Company, the Association of Irish Forestry Consultants and the Irish Timber Growers Association.These presentations addressed the many queries that forest owners have how to get the job done and how to make contact with timber buyers. Both events also gave forest owners a better appreciation how the timber selling process works.The Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners and the Sligo/ Leitrim Forest Owner Group also gave their perspective and shared their experiences on forest thinning.

These presentations can now be viewed on the Teagasc Forestry website: www.teagasc.ie/forestry.

Participants appreciated the ample networking opportunities at both these timber marketing events, providing a great opportunity for forest owners to engage with those buying timber in the area.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 7

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 8

FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS safety so I welcome the inclusion of this talk in relation to forests”.

He concluded by encouraging the forest owners in attendance to The Teagasc Forestry Development Department, in association with make the most of the opportunity presented by the Conference to the Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners and the Forest Service learn and to make contacts in the industry and among other owner organised the Annual Forest Owner Groups Conference at the Ballykisteen groups.

There was strong interest in the second session of the conference, Hotel, Limerick Junction, Co Tipperary last October. Over two hundred which covered topics now of major importance to many forest owners, forest owners, many with forests approaching thinning, attended.This reflects the major interest that now exists in bringing private woodlots including forest insurance and the tax implications associated with a forest enterprise.The interest was reflected in the wide ranging and to the marketplace. informed questions and debate during the question and answer sessions Michael Somers,Teagasc and co–organiser of the conference said: that followed.

“The conference provided an ideal forum for attendees to share Most presentations can be viewed on the Teagasc Forestry experiences and acquire valuable information to help in their forest enterprise.The theme of this year’s event “Strength in Numbers” also website: www.teagasc.ie/forestry. reflected one of Teagasc’s objectives in promoting forest owner groups and encouraging active forest owner cooperation and participation.”

Dr Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, head of Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department, paid tribute to the work carried out and progress achieved by forest owner groups to date. She noted that this was the fifth such event and during this time, the number of forest owner groups had grown from seven to twenty six groups spread throughout the country.

Michael Ryan, chairman of the Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners explained in his presentation what forest owner groups are all about:“Function of producer groups is to allow the owner to October 8th 2013: Minister of state Tom Hayes TD with the organisers maintain control of their forests”. of the Forest Owner Group Conference held in the Ballykisteen Hotel, Opening the Conference, Minister for State Tom Hayes TD noted Tipperary. Over 200 forest owners attended. (From left to right): Donal the relevance of the topics for discussion at the Conference. He Mullane, Teagasc; Michael Ryan, Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners; Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, Teagasc; Tom Hayes TD; Michael Somers, welcomed, in particular, the inclusion of a talk on ‘Safety in your Teagasc; and John Reardon, LTWO. Forest’, stating “We are all aware of the crucial importance of farm

OVER 200 ATTEND THE FOREST OWNER GROUPS CONFERENCE

8

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 9

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:19

Page 10

FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS LOCAL ENERGY WOOD FORECASTS WILL FACILITATE RENEWABLE HEAT USERS

was committed to supporting owners through advice and training to bring their timber to market.

This SupplyChip report is available from the Teagasc Forestry website www.teagasc.ie/forestry.

A new Teagasc report on the cluster based supply of wood for energy from private forestry plantations will be an important decision making tool for potential major users of renewable heat.

The SupplyChip report was launched in the BMW Assembly, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon on 16 October 2013.

Speaking at the launch,Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle acknowledged the carbon neutrality of wood for energy production and the potential for forestry to contribute to sustainable agricultural development as production intensifies towards Food Harvest 2020.

The COFORD funded report was co–authored by Dr Niall Farrelly and Dr Joanne Fitzgerald from Teagasc and forestry consultant Henry Phillips.

Over 3,000 individual private plantations clustered around Ballaghaderreen were assessed for site productivity and road access.“Our analysis provides a robust local wood energy forecast from private plantations which will help investment decisions by potential major heat users and help stimulate thinning and income generation by forest owners,” October 16th, 2013: Launch of Teagasc's SupplyChip report on the commented Dr Farrelly. cluster based supply of wood for energy from private forestry The report coincides with the decision by Aurivo to invest €5.5 million plantations. The launch took place in the BMW Assembly, in a state of the art 12 MW CHP plant in their dairy ingredients plant Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon on 16 October. This report will be in Ballaghaderreen. Construction is well underway. an important decision making tool for potential major users of renewable heat. Speaking at the launch (from left to right): Padraig Willie Murphy from Aurivo said that the CHP project was a key Gibbons, chairman Aurivo; Noel Kennedy, forestry development element in an ambitious 5 year sustainable energy strategy being officer Roscommon, Teagasc; Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, head of Teagasc's pursued by the Co–Op. Forestry Development Department; Dr Noel Cawley, chairman of the In his opening address at the launch of the report,Teagasc Chairman, Teagasc Authority; Alan Fox, HDS; Prof Gerry Boyle, director Teagasc; Dr Niall Farrelly, forest researcher, Teagasc; Henry Phillips, Dr Noel Cawley commented on how forestry was now an important forestry consultant. enterprise on many farms around Ballaghaderreen and that Teagasc

10

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 11

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 12

FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

OVER 600 LANDOWNERS SEEK UNBIASED ADVICE AT TEAGASC’S FORESTRY ADVISORY CLINICS Many clinic days were added to the nationwide series of Forestry Advisory Clinics to cope with the demand for unbiased forestry advice.More than half of all queries related to planting forestry on the farm.These Clinics were organised by Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department and were held between mid–January and mid–February.

currently available and an ever increasing demand for timber mean that a forest enterprise is becoming an increasingly attractive option for more and more landowners.”

She added;“As in all crops,the importance of good management cannot be overlooked in relation to getting the best from a farm forest. Good and timely management will ensure that the benefits of the forest can be optimised with regard to financial returns, environmental benefits and on-farm uses including fuel and timber.”

Noel Kennedy, Forestry Adviser with Teagasc said;“Many landowners January - February 2014: Many landowners availed of a one to one are investigating the benefits of afforestation. Issues that were discussed consultation with a Teagasc Forestry Adviser. Pictured is John Casey, Forestry Adviser in Cork discussing the suitability of forestry on the farm regularly during the Clinics included the Single Farm Payment,grants and with an interested farmer. premiums, eligibility for farmer premium, interaction with other farming nvestigating the possibility of planting some land, additional queries schemes,environmental restrictions as well as financial benefits and implications.”

He continued;“Forestry grant aid application procedures were discussed in regarding an existing forestry grant application and preparing for great detail at these consultations.All Forestry Advisers handed out many thinning were the three most common queries raised by landowners attending these Clinics. copies of the List of Registered Foresters. Registered Foresters can The status of the Single Farm Payment in relation to forestry and the process the forestry grant application on behalf of their clients.” introduction of new forestry schemes later this year were also regularly These consultations are important in helping farmers make an informed mentioned.The Minister of State for Forestry,Tom Hayes TD’s announcement decision on forestry as an enterprise.Forestry can have many attractions,but earlier this week was therefore very timely as it reconfirmed the favourable you need to know if it is appropriate for you.The unbiased information position of forestry in relation to the Single Farm Payment.This will provided at these Forestry Clinics can help guide decisions about forestry as provide further reassurance to those considering planting. a viable enterprise and future appropriate forest management options.

Dr. Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, Head of Teagasc’s Forestry Development Details on all current forestry grant schemes and valuable Department, said;“The success of this year’s clinics was due to the forest management tips are available from the Teagasc Forestry significant interest in planting among farmers.The attractive incentives website: www.teagasc.ie/forestry.

I

12

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 13

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 14

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

A GUIDE ON HOW TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR CHAINSAW A guide on how to inspect and maintain your chainsaw by Husqvarna Head of Service in Ireland, Andy Walsh.

a few minutes to do as about 3 wipes of the file on each cutter will get the chain performing again.

Selecting the correct filing equipment is vital to doing the job right. If sharpening with a file the most important thing to get right is the size of the file as this sets the top plate angle.

You will need a filing guide to set the side plate angle and a depth gauge to check and set the raker setting which is done with a flat file. A quick chat with your local chainsaw dealer will get you sorted.

At the end of each day’s work it is highly advisable to inspect and perform some basic maintenance to keep your saw in good working order and to have it ready to go the next time you need it.

Start by taking off the clutch cover and cleaning it thoroughly as this cover houses your chain brake mechanism which, in the case of a kick back, can save your life. If there are any defects or broken parts in this mechanism do not use the saw and bring it to your local service dealer for repair.

Clean out around the clutch drum and clutch as dirt in this area can affect the cooling of the saw.Take off the guide bar and inspect it for damage. If there are any burrs on the edge of the bar these must be removed or they will eventually crack and break rendering the bar un–useable.

A tip here is to wear gloves and use a hand held tool called a bar rail dresser to avoid serious damage to your hand. Clean out the groove in the bar with a bar groove scraper to ensure good flow of oil to the chain.

Make sure that you turn the guide bar to get the full life from it.

Put the chain on and tension properly.

If you have a sprocket nosed guide bar adjust the chain so that it sits well into the bar but is still easy to pull round by hand.Then sharpen the chain.

Next remove the top cover and the starter cover and clean around both areas as this is where the air to cool the engine is taken in and circulated. hen in use it is essential that a chainsaw is inspected and Check the spark plug lead and the cap for any damage and if you maintained daily to keep it at optimum performance and find some replace the offending parts do not repair as you may get tracking through the repair and especially when it’s wet you provide maximum safety. can get a very nasty shock from the 25000 volts that are generated Firstly a chainsaw is only as good as the edge that is on the chain. by the ignition coil.

You can have the biggest, most powerful engine in the world driving

W

“At the end of each day’s work it is highly advisable to inspect and perform some basic maintenance to keep your saw in good working order and to have it ready to go the next time you need it” the chain at the fastest speed achievable but without the chain being sharp it will not cut properly. All that will happen is that you will lean on the saw in an attempt to make it cut, which will cause severe damage to your bar, your chain and your drive sprocket necessitating their replacement at quite a financial cost to you.

The golden rule to operating any chainsaw is that when you find yourself leaning on a dull chain forcing it to cut it is time to stop and sharpen it. If you do this each and every time it will only take

14

Next check all of the safety devices on the saw to see that they are in place or that they are in working order. They are the chain catcher, the trigger lock and the on/off switch.

If any of these are not in working order or are missing DO NOT OPERATE THE SAW BEFORE THEY ARE REPLACED. If you invest a few minutes, each day you use your saw, to inspect and maintain it the saw will reward you with good performance for years to come.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

12:06

Page 15

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 16

FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

LATEHOSE

e provide the service you require,Hydraulic hose repair “outside business hours”, remember the last hose failure was it outside business hours!!

We manufacture all host sizes from 1/4 to 1'1/4 in both 2–wire and 4–wire hose assembly's for high pressure applications, currently in stock over 950 different types of hose tails, to suit all types of machines.

We can repair/Refurbish hydraulic system's on a machine, also all types of checking and diagnosis can be provided for any hydraulic system.

We also provide a "crane weighing" system which has the ability to weight produce being placed onto a truck, this is one of the most advanced systems on the market.

Please call with your individual requirements, we have the solution to solve your problem!

For more information contact JP Betts, Ballingeary, Cahir, Co. Tipperary (5 minutes from junction 10 M8, Cahir exit, 10 minutes from Clonmel). Telephone 00353 (0) 86–785 4848.

Visit www.latehose.ie or email: support@latehose.ie

W

MAKITA WARMS TO WINTER FASHION WITH HEATED JACKETS onstruction sites are cold and bleak in winter but the new heated jacket from Makita will provide a new level of comfort and protection. Powered by Makita’s popular Lithium–ion batteries, which many site tradesmen will already own with their power tools, the new DCJ200 heated jacket uses the popular 18v Lithium–ion battery which will give comfortable low heating for 17.5 continuous hours.

The new Makita heated jackets, with central zip fastening, are blouson style with three zip–close pockets, two at the sides and one useful chest pocket.There is an additional sleeve holder for a mobile phone. Sleeves, which are detachable in milder weather, have elasticated cuffs for heat retention and the jacket hem can be tightened by a pull cord while the crew–type collar provides maximum wind and weather protection.These useful jackets are made from a robust and durable combination-fabric of 94% polyester and 6% spandex which is fast drying.

The Lithium–ion battery can either be carried in a pouch on the inside at the rear of the jacket or clipped onto the user’s belt.The three heat zones are in the middle of the back and the two waist side areas, while an LED heat level indicator is on the left breast just below the Makita branding.

The DCJ200 heated jacket, available in black only, will prove to be a real comfort in winter.

For the latest company news and information please visit www.makitauk.com or follow Makita on Twitter @MakitaUK.

C

NOEL LANE TREE CARE AND HYDROKIT AND A.S.E FULLFILS THE DEMANDS OF FORESTRY SERVICES Caherpeak, Kilcolgan, Co Galway THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY his is a new company set up by Noel Lane. Noel has up to 40

T

years’ experience in Forestry and Tree Care. He is a registered forester with the Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Noel has a Higher Diploma in Science in Forestry and is a certified arborist based in Galway with full Comprehensive Professional Indemnity Insurance.The new company offer a range of Tree Care and Forestry services including the following: Tree Surveys including reports and recommendations on tree health and risk assessment. Surveys detail individual trees by species, age, condition and recommended treatment.

Complete Tree Care Project Management This is the full package: provide tree survey, secure and evaluate tenders, supervise work and sign off when complete to specification.

Specifications vary and can involve crown reduction, crown thinning, crown pruning and crown lifting, removal of dead and broken branch material, chipping, dangerous tree removal, tree removal to facilitate development works, stump removal, tree replacement etc.

Tree Planting including both commercial Forestry establishment and landscaping purposes.

Full range of Forest Business services such as forestry management plans, forest inventory,forest thinning and harvesting and forest valuations.

Noel Lane Tree Care and Forestry Services Company are targeting all market segments.The new company rely on previous reputation and safety and delivery of services on time and within reasonable and competitive budgets.

For more information, telephone Noel at 086 2536973, email: noellane80@gmail.com or visit www.noellanetreecare.ie

16

www.hydrokit.com www.soermatp.com

o you have a hydraulic requirement or need a specific forestry attachment?

Hydrokit and A.S.E are sister companies within the Vensys Group and offer exciting solutions to improve the performance, safety and comfort of your machines.

Hydrokit can supply hydraulic and electro–hydraulic kits and components.

We work with major branded products and have our own “in–house”electrical and hydraulic R & D departments.

We also stock a vast range of workshop equipment items to enable the service and maintenance of today’s advanced machines. For example: flow meters, pressure test kits, filtration units etc.

A.S.E. manufactures Forestry attachments and processing equipment. We have numerous solutions for the removal and crushing of tree stumps. These are excavator mounted tools and easily interchangeable to increase the flexibility of your equipment.

A.S.E. can also offer a firewood processor.

This mounts onto a suitable wheeled loader (or tractor front loader).

This machine enables the removal of timber from the stack and processing into logs a highly efficient one person operation.

For more information, a free catalogue (or if interested in becoming a Hydrokit or A.S.E dealer,) please contact Dave Freeman on the following details. Hydrokit UK Ltd. Tel +44 (0)1728 684800.

Fax +44 (0)1728 684808, Email: uksales@hydrokit.com www.hydrokit.com www.soermatp.com

D

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 17

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 18

FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

obinson Distribution Ltd has been known for many years for their work and their supply to the timber haulage market in both Ireland and abroad. Now they have recently taking a step further in the timber harvesting market with lo loaders, and this may potentially open up other markets.

Robinson Distribution has previously produced lo loaders, but now with the release of this new model, they will be sure to satisfy all customer needs.The new model of lo loader has many variations including: BPW single or twin leaf spring,SAF axles,auto lift axle,steering

R

18

axles,three or four axle configuration,galvanised clip style out riggers, 50mm hard wood floor, steel chequered plate or timber in neck area, timber bolsters, as well as many other features.

However with new timber trailers in mind, Robinson Distribution is determined to stay beyond the cutting edge at all times in the timber haulage and handling equipment supply.

If you have any queries for new or used timber haulage or handling equipment, please feel free to contact Robinson Distribution on Telephone: 00353 57 8624832 or email Scott at email:scott@robinsondistribution.ie Visit the website at www.robinsondistribution.ie

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 19

FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

BAG SUPPLIES CONSOLIDATES ITS POSITION I www.bagsupplies.com

t is now six months since Bag Supplies became part of Staffordshire based Cliffe Packaging Limited. Bag Supplies traditional customer base has accepted and trusted the change of ownership and understands the strengths Cliffe can bring to Bag Supplies.

Cliffe Packaging Limited was formed in 1996, the same year as the original Bag Supplies business. With warehouses in Stoke– on–Trent and Wardle, Cheshire, Cliffe Packaging has over £1.8 million of finished goods stock, enabling the company to provide a just–in–time delivery service demanded by many of its customers.

Though part of a larger company, Bag Supplies has retained its own distinctive independence. Even though the business has since relocated from Penrith in Cumbria, to Stoke–on–Trent, the traditions of being a family owned business run deep within the culture of the business. An exacting demand to provide the best service for its customers in terms of availability, quality, and of course price; drives the business forward.That core belief will re–used over and over again”. Other products include the traditional never change. bulk bags, vented barrow bags and net bags of all shapes and sizes.

With a large selection of flexible packaging available, designed 2014 will be a busy year for the company.“Business is good” to contain safely and securely, logs and wood products; Bag Supplies said Simon.“We are also looking forward to attending the APF is ready for business. Simon Davidson, Bag Supplies Ops Manager, Show at Ragley Estate in Warwickshire, in September. We look stated “one of our most enduring products is the mosquito vented forward to welcoming all our customers, old and new to our log bag. It has been uniquely designed to allow air to circulate to stand”. make sure logs dry out and do not become wet or mouldy.The For full range of products visit the company website at bag has been designed with tipping loops to allow the bags to be www.bagsupplies.com

19

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 20

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

HUSQVARNA’S CORDLESS REVOLUTION CONTINUES–WITH BACKPACK BATTERIES In 2013, Husqvarna rewrote the book for cordless power tools with the launch of its first ever battery product range.The broad line spanned from trimmers, hedge trimmers, chain saws and accessories – to an actual full–size Rider.And now, all handheld products are about to get a serious power boost.“The new backpack batteries will change everything!”says Andy Walsh, Head of Service for Husqvarna Ireland.

hen the world's largest producer of outdoor power products released its battery product range last year it marked a huge step:The genuine Husqvarna feel – with exceptionally low levels of sound and vibration, and no direct emissions during use.All handheld products were built around one interchangeable 36 V battery system, enabling the same battery to be used with a complete fleet of professional tools. So, when the company now launches its backpack battery solution it instantly boosts the runtime of the entire line.With up to 9 times the present integrated battery performance (BLi110).

“This takes the battery product range to a whole new level. Being able to work with a trimmer, for example, for up to eight hours (free run time in savE mode) will redefine the way professionals look at battery power tools. When launching the range of battery tools Husqvarna used the phrase ‘petrol performance – without any

W

adjusted to fit any size. It smoothly follows every move the user makes, and the weight can be individually distributed between hips and shoulders.

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT Unlike competing products, Husqvarna’s backpack batteries are carefully designed to keep users in the driver’s seat.Thus, the battery status can always be read right on the adaptor – as well as on the backpack itself. Should the battery need recharging one simply attaches it to the same charger as for the regular 36 V battery.And, if needed, it can also be completely detached from the harness – facilitating charging, transport and storage.

The Husqvarna backpack batteries will be available in Husqvarna dealerships across the Republic of Ireland, from early 2014 onwards.

“By being developed alongside the battery products, nothing has been left to chance.

The adaptor that goes into the tool has been given the perfect weight to balance the product in your hand, resulting in great maneuverabilit” petrol’, which now becomes more true than ever. Battery is definitely THESE ARE THE NEW BACKPACK BATTERIES: the future in my opinion.” says Andy, an avid fan of the battery range. · Offering a work environment with minimal vibration and noise levels – and no direct emission during use.All day long. · Two models: 520 Wh (14,4 Ah) and 940 Wh (26,1 Ah).

EASE OF USE – AND TRUE COMFORT · 5 and 9 times the runtime of the standard battery.

By being developed alongside the battery products, nothing has · Up to 790 minutes of continuous runtime (depending on the been left to chance. combination of backpack and power tool).

The adaptor that goes into the tool has been given the perfect · Ergonomic: Comfortable soft harness – made to fit any size and weight to balance the product in your hand, resulting in great height. maneuverability. Furthermore, the adaptor is detachable from the · Pivotal hip belt: Makes the backpack follow your every move. battery cord.

Balances the battery weight perfectly at any given moment.

A feature that enables users to put the backpack on with ease and get comfortable before connecting, which adds an important safety · Automatic battery cooling: Maintains optimal performance temperature, which prolongs runtime – and reduces time spent on feature in the process: If something should catch the cord it snaps recharging. off instantly.The entire backpack is highly ergonomic and can be

20

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 21

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 22

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

WOOD–MIZER:PRESENTING

POST–CRISIS SAWMILLING SOLUTIONS Like most industries, the global crisis was especially hard on the timber and sawmilling sectors. Many large sawmill corporations could not adapt quickly enough to diversify their products, or scale their productions to a size better suited for riding out the storm, and unfortunately are no more. Jacob Mooney reports.

Although Wood–Mizer’s message that it was offering a better method for profitability was timely, the crisis affected them initially as it did almost everyone else. “[2008 and 2009] were difficult times. It brought into sharp focus two or three things from a strategic management point of view.

One was to diversify our presence geographically because typically there is only a short period when every country in the world is ‘shut down’ all at once.

“We also determined that we would expand our product offering… through to industrial installations.Again, not every part of the industry is closed down at the same time.

“Internally we decided that we would redouble our efforts to be the best we could.We took a conscious decision not to downsize Representing a new era for Wood–Mizer Industries, the 4,250 square any of our R&D staff.We continued the commitment to developing metre new production building and offices will support growth product during that period.That was also the time that we really ome good news is found though in a company that for many focused very hard on implementing lean manufacturing principles. years built its reputation on serving the needs of small scale “We are trying to create a cooperation that can withstand the sawmilling operators.Wood–Mizer Industries introduced the economic ups and downs of the future, and we are keeping up concept of thin–kerf, narrowband processing to Europe in the 1990’s, with that fairly strenuous ‘keep fit’ regime.We have been able to and their successes for the small–scale producer showed them that make the expansion investment and continue along our strategic many of their innovations could also scaled up and applied in settings path we have set. I think that is a very tangible measurement that that are more industrial. justifies the strategic decisions that we have taken.”

For over ten years, the company has been growing in their industrial sawmilling product range, although many from the established NEW PRODUCTION HALL EXPANDS THE industry viewed those efforts with varying degrees of scepticism.

COMPANY’S CAPACITY TO DEVELOP BIGGER However, the crisis itself has shown that some of the benefits PRODUCTS touted by Wood–Mizer of industrial thin–kerf sawmilling has its In January,Wood–Mizer Industries celebrated the grand opening merits, and is becoming an alternative route for consideration. ceremonies of their newly completed 4,250 square metre production POST – CRISIS REPORT WITH CEO RICHARD VIVERS hall at their European headquarters, which almost doubles the company’s sawmill production area.

Wood–Mizer’s new president and CEO, Richard Vivers, is a native Richard Vivers shares that the vision for the expanded production of Scotland who ran his own timber business for many years. He met a growing need for more space, and sets the stage for further was using wideband sawmills for processing originally, and happened growth.“Growth in overall sales volume and product range were upon Wood–Mizer equipment by accident at a forestry exhibition both causes for the expansion. Over the years, we started getting in Northern England in the 1980s. more involved in industrial installations of bigger machinery.As we “I walked around a corner in the forest, and I saw this funny little developed into Asia and Africa, where they have long, large tropical orange machine cutting a very big oak log and doing it very easily logs, the machines became bigger, and you simply need more floor and very accurately. I stood and watched it for probably a half hour space to be able to build bigger machinery.” before I even went to speak to the people who were demonstrating it.”

That was the beginning. Richard bought his own LT40 sawmill and began performing mobile sawmill services locally.This eventually resulted in him selling his wideband–based business, as he became Wood–Mizer’s agent in Scotland. His involvement with the company continued more and more through the years. In 2006, he was appointed CEO of the European operations, and more recently president and CEO of the company globally.

“My belief,” Mr.Vivers explains,“Was that this was an alternative to the traditional circle or very wideband sawmills which necessarily result in heavy investment, expensive foundations, heavy equipment, high–energy consumption, and large capital expenditure to get started. My desire has always been to offer a parallel universe to the traditional sawmilling industry, doing the same thing, but doing John Kissock, from Wood–Mizer's board of directors, shares some opening it in a different way. I believe this way is more cost effective…” words at the ceremony

S

22

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:20

Page 23

COMMERCIAL FEATURE Designed by AiG Architects and constructed by BUDREM, the new building will allow Wood–Mizer’s production team to be as flexible as possible with future material flow.The roof can support heavy overhead cranes anywhere in the building, and the concrete floor is 30cm (11.8in) thick, enabling heavy machines to be moved anywhere in the building without reinforcement. New offices will house Wood–Mizer’s production and purchasing teams.The building also features a large modern kitchen, large conference rooms, and expanded employee break and locker rooms.A new access road from the main highway and expanded exterior parking and equipment staging areas also played a significant role in the project.

The opening ceremonies were well attended by government officials, business partners, board members, and Wood–Mizer’s international management team. Entertainment was provided by ROMA, one of Poland’s most well–known and award winning theatre groups from Warsaw.

“The guiding principles focused on flexibility, expanding production to a new level, and creating a good working environment for our employees,” Mr Vivers shares.“The architects have designed a stunning building around our practical needs.The expansion of our European headquarters gives us a solid base to move up to the next stage in the sawmilling industry globally.”

ALTERNATIVE INDUSTRIAL SAWMILL PRODUCTS FOR A POST–CRISIS INDUSTRY Wood–Mizer now has with branch offices on five continents and a network of dealers throughout the world, and their largest areas of growth are coming from countries with developing economies.

The LT20 is a fairly recent addition to Wood–Mizer's line, offering very flexible configurations to match budgets

From small, hobby–sized sawmills to a sawmill that can cut a tropical 1.7m diameter log smoothly through the centre, the company is seeing growth in all product categories post–crisis – demonstrating there exists a definite need for thin–kerf processing around the world “Until recently, we were generally perceived by the sawmilling industry as a rather curious little thing that ran around the countryside cutting logs.That is now changing significantly.To some extent, the difficulties of the recent recession have helped. During that period, many of our customers that have our industrial units were able to be far more flexible and had lower capital costs and lower commitments than many of the traditional mega sawmills.Very few of our owners actually went out of business.”

“Wood–Mizer’s new president and CEO, Richard Vivers, is a native of Scotland who ran his own timber business for many years. He was using wideband sawmills for processing originally, and happened upon Wood–Mizer equipment by accident at a forestry exhibition in Northern England in the 1980” Richard would not say exactly what the company will be shortly releasing to market, but he remarked that their engineering and R&D departments are close to completing several new projects that continue to expand Wood–Mizer’s range, and that their team continues to grow.

The LT70 is a semi–industrial sawmill that can be used mobily or in a stationary production environment

The LT10 is the most affordable and basic sawmill in Wood–Mizer's range

23

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:21

Page 24

EUCALYPTUS FEATURE

GROW YOUR OWN FIREWOOD IN AS LITTLE AS 8 YEARS WITH EUCALYPTUS SHORT ROTATION FORESTRY D-Plant Horticulture–Leading the way to sustainable fuel. products.This is putting pressure on the firewood supply market.

The need to bridge this gap is becoming more apparent each year.

Eucalyptus is an ideal crop for this purpose. A purpose grown wood fuel crop ideally suited for the firewood log market as well as the other wood fuel products like chip and pellet. Eucalyptus as a wood fuel crop has a low entry level.This is an ideal crop for with as little as 250m2 or as much as you can handle. It can be planted by hand with a spade and harvested with a chainsaw or a mechanical harvester.

Last seasons planting went well with numbers increasing on the previous year and 2014 orders are more than three times 2013 figures.The warm weather last July did mean some watering to help plants establish, especially later planted crops. Weed control remains to be a key factor in in the progression of the crop. Poor weed control – in our view – could make what should be an 8 year crop take 12 years to be fit for first harvest. Well tilled soil has shown to give the best and most uniform establishment.The use of 750mm silage wrap as a mulch has proven very useful especially in keeping herbicide application away from the Eucalyptus plants.Two to three applications per year of Glyphosate (Roundup) and Glufosinate–ammonium (Basta) for the first two and a half years has worked very well in our trials. Mowing or strimming between the rows helps get back on track if weeds get out of hand. It has proven much easier to keep on top of weed control rather than trying to rescue a situation which has gotten out of hand. Eucalyptus planted at 2M x 2M should close canopy by the middle to end of the third year and no further weed control will be needed again until after harvest on year 8 to 10.The addition 013 was another successful year for Eucalyptus planting of 50g of a balanced fertilizer per plant at planting time and with growers of new plantations reporting good establishment again at 1 year old has shown to be of great benefit giving the and growth up to the end of the growing season.There has transplant a good boost during establishment. Plants should be been a steady increase in the number of people undertaking the watered in if planted during dry periods and watered regularly until established. plantation of Eucalyptus for wood fuel, firewood logs in particular.

D–Plant Horticulture is dedicated to the development of Eucalyptus as Plants for 2014 are almost booked up. If you are interested in a future source of wood fuel in Ireland. 2013 has seen approximately planting for 2014 contact us ASAP. Eucalyptus Glaucescens at 50 months from planting

2

“Last seasons planting went well with numbers increasing on the previous year and 2014 orders are more than three times 2013 figures.The warm weather last July did mean some watering to help plants establish, especially later planted crops” 60 new growers from around the country planting eucalyptus with projects ranging from small self–sufficiency plantations to larger commercial forests and 2014 will have upwards of 150 new plantations of Eucalyptus planted around the country.

It’s been more than 7 years since we first looked at eucalyptus as a wood fuel crop. After 2 years of research we planted our first trial plots in May 2009.The winters of 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 were a real trial, but while we sustained heavy losses we also learned a huge amount about cold hardiness, variety selection, provenance selection and site selection.These 2 winters, while severe in every way, are what has brought this eucalyptus industry forward in research and development.The surviving species in the trial plots planted in 2009 with 30cm transplants now stand at an average height of 7.5m in just under five years from planting.

There is a rising costs of fossil fuels and increasing pressure on the firewood supply market due to the compulsory requirement for smokeless fuel in urban areas, coupled with competition for traditional forest resources from fiberboard, wood chip and pellet

24

VARIETIES AVAILABLE FOR 2015 SEASON FROM D–PLANT HORTICULTURE: • E glaucescens – will coppice (–15to –17) • E urnigera – will coppice (–15c to –17c) • E. rodwayi – will coppice (V13c to –15c) Suitable for wetter sites • E. subcrenulata – Will coppice (–14c to –17c) • E.parvula – will coppice (–14c to –16c) • E. cordata – will coppice. Useful for coastal shelter.

(–12c to –14c) • E. nitens – vigorous but does not copice reliably (–12c to –13c) • E. denticulata – will coppice (–11c to –12.5c) For More information contact: Brendan Doyle, D–Plant Horticulture, Borelia, Glenbrien, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Tel: 053 9236516, Mobile 087 2861221, Email:dplant@eircom.net or www.dplant.ie

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

12:13

Page 25

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:22

Page 26

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

THE TREE–LOPPER As the appetite for wood fuel has increased over the last few years so has the range of equipment that is available to cut and process it.The Tree–Lopper fills a niche which sits well between the wood fuel industry and a number of associated industries.

TL150 on 5 tonne long reach excavator

TL350 on 17 tonne excavator

Contractors who commented that they were struggling to achieve he Tree–lopper has been around for a few years in various consistent outputs of two or three willow trees a day when using guises which arguably have established it as a very versatile tool in industry sectors including Forestry,Agriculture,Wood the ‘man in a basket’ method are now reporting outputs of around thirty trees a day – cut and processed – when using the Tree–lopper, Fuel,Waterways and Recycling. and all with one person.

The latest generation introduces design changes which improve It typically takes a couple of hours to perfect the most efficient durability and performance.

The three model range of Tree–Loppers is suitable for fitment to working method but once mastered, the process is pretty seamless.

The Tree–Lopper equipped machine is commonly used in conjunction excavators from 1.5 to 14 tonnes and also loaders, telehandlers, with a second machine which takes care of the cord wood and brash skid steers and tractor loaders.

The Tree–Lopper could well be described as an overgrown pair of clearance.To add a further dimension the kit can be barge mounted secateurs which when attached to an excavator or loader arm can thus enabling trees to be cut which would otherwise be inaccessible be used for cutting all sorts of timber.The addition of a 360 degree from dry land. Over hanging trees is a common problem on Britain’s rotator between the Tree–Lopper and the arm means that the operator inland waterways these days. can achieve precise positioning for cutting operations and can then Another application which perfectly suits the Tree–Lopper is the handling and processing of waste timber from construction and also use it for timber handling and basic processing. forestry operations. Foreign material in the timber such as nails, An application which is very well suited to the Tree–Lopper is tree pollarding and in particular, willow trees.The practice of pollarding wire and stones have little or no effect on the cutting mechanism.

Similarly, engagement with the ground is not a problem. In the rare willow trees was traditionally carried out in the winter months with the resulting timber being used for fuel.The work was labour intensive, event of damage being done to the blade, it can be rectified very simply by a quick dust over with an angle grinder. slow and inherently dangerous.

In more recent times with increasing pressure on labour costs and The Tree–Lopper is rapidly making inroads into the agricultural world where it is being used very successfully to cut back hedges more stringent health and safety legislation the pollarding activity which have become overgrown over many years thus restoring has declined significantly which has resulted in trees becoming fields to their original size. Overhanging branches can be removed overgrown, invasive and potentially dangerous. quickly and safely to allow the modern farm machinery to maximize With the Tree–Lopper fitted to an excavator or loader, the operator production from the land. can cut complete limbs from the crown of the tree in one ‘snip’ For more information contact Andrew Harker at from the safety their cab. Once the limb has been ‘dropped’ the Tel: 0044 1684 593052, email: aj.harker@exac-one.co.uk or Tree–Lopper is then used to pick it up and process it into cord visit the following website www.exac-one.co.uk timber and brash.

T

26

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:22

Page 27

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:22

Page 28

THE FOREST SERVICE

FIRE MANAGEMENT MEANS LAND MANAGEMENT

Developing improved fire resilience requires better partnership and understanding of how land management strategies affect fire regimes, writes Ciaran Nugent, Forestry Inspector and Fire Management Specialist with the Forest Service.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WILDFIRE Given our climate, it is difficult for people to accept that wildfire could be a problem in an Irish context. Until recently there was little awareness of the level of wildfire activity nationally. The reporting of wildfire activity and suppression operations was generally lost in the annual deluge of fire service statistics for more critical types of incidents.A poor evidence base, and underestimation of the issue over time, has led to a large level of complacency among land managers regarding the risk involved, and the scale of potential impacts.

Apart from being a problem in itself,an increasing wildfire regime is a strong indicator of more insidious land management imbalances where upland conservation habitats and species are concerned.

According to available DOECLG data, between 2000 and 2009, an average of 3,500 wildfire incidents was recorded annually by fire and rescue services in Ireland. Call outs during 2010 and 2011 were multiples of this level.Types of incidents range from small unattended outdoor fires to more serious extensive wildfires involving hundreds and occasionally thousands of hectares of upland vegetation.

Quite apart from generating the need to protect lives and property from the fires, wildfires at this scale can cause serious operational challenges by diverting emergency crews away from their main task of saving lives in our communities. Emergency crews attending wildfire incidents, often in remote rural locations, are less available to respond to more life threatening incidents such as road traffic accidents or house fires.

Despite the large number of incidents, comparatively little evidence is available regarding the location, nature or extent of these incidents.

Fire service data does not have a geospatial component, unlike the UK, where the Incident Recording System (IRS) has a major geospatial element built in, allowing the pattern of incident locations to be monitored over time.

28

In Ireland, incident locations and burned area assessments are based on available satellite imagery or from anecdotal evidence from fire services and forest managers on the ground. Given that only 2% of fires are detected by satellite, an improved evidence base is needed, if the true scale of the problem is to be accurately estimated, and the true cost of these fires established.

COSTS OF WILDFIRE Recent years have seen heavy economic losses occurring as a consequence of major wildfire incidents.Wildfire suppression and damage to forests and other assets arising from fires in 2011 may have involved direct costs in excess of €15 Million, with much of this cost borne by state agencies and local authorities.

While the costs of the spate of wildfire incidents in western counties during spring 2013 have yet to be fully calculated, these costs must again be absorbed by already strained budgets, particularly at local authority level, in the affected counties. In some counties such costs may constitute as much as a third of total FRS costs incurred annually.

In 2011, over 1500 hectares of forest were destroyed in Ireland representing nearly 25% of the total area planted during the same year under Forest Service planting schemes. Fire suppression and replacement of burned state–owned forests is estimated to have cost over €8 million in 2011.This figure does not include the opportunity costs of the timber lost to downstream industries and exports arising from losses to fire which may be multiples of the replacement costs.

Most seriously, wildfires can have a cost in lives, and as many as 10 people are known to have died in connection with wildfire incidents in Ireland since 1996.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:22

Page 29

THE FOREST SERVICE

All of these fuel types are capable of generating intense fires, and Ireland’s wildfire season occurs much earlier than in most continental are difficult to control under dry spring conditions. Indeed, control European countries. Most incidents occur between March and June may be almost impossible where heavy fuel loads are available.

Recent years have seen a reduction in livestock grazing levels and as opposed to mid to late summer under continental conditions. farming intensity in upland areas, with a resulting increase in available Despite high annual rainfall levels, spring weather patterns in vegetation.Apart from providing fodder for animals, vegetation is Ireland regularly feature prolonged dry periods and dry easterly also potential fuel for wildfires, and there is more hazardous fuel and northerly winds associated with Mid–Atlantic and continental accumulating, year on year in our uplands. Currently, there are less high pressure systems. grazing animals that might consume the fuel, the wrong types of Wildfires in Europe are generally associated with high winds, animals for the types of vegetation concerned, and most worryingly of high temperatures and low humidity. In Ireland, fires frequently all, there are fewer farmers to keep such animals in the first instance, occur even where quite low temperatures exist, and where humidity and manage fuel loads. ratings exceed 50%. Low temperatures and low humidity conditions From a fire management and mitigation viewpoint, all vegetation are frequently seen during spring in Ireland. Humidity ratings dropped is viewed as potential fuel.The hazard posed by availability of fuels below 30% in some western locations on several occasions during in upland areas, is not helped by a haphazard approach to the use 2012 and 2013, increasing fire risk dramatically. of prescribed fire in upland farming.There is a strong correlation Where humidity levels are lower, fuels, in the form of senescent between wildfire incidence and agricultural burning.This practice upland vegetation (Calluna, Ulex, Molinia) can be induced to a is traditionally associated with extensive grazing practices in highly flammable condition very rapidly, even within a few hours upland areas in counties along the western coast of Ireland or in following rain. Performance as fuel by vegetation is largely dependent counties with extensive peatlands.Traditional burning practice has on moisture content and physical make up (fuel arrangement) of been overtaken by changes in the landscape, there is more fuel, the vegetation prior to burning.Typical fuels range from simple there are more new houses next to the fuel, and fewer farmers to upland grasses to extensive forest plantations and complex shrublands. cooperate in management of commonage areas. Repeated wildfire incidents in many areas have led to a reduced tolerance for prescribed burning, and the predominance of conservation as a primary land management objective in upland areas made development of more appropriate prescribed fire practice difficult for farming interests to progress.

THE IRISH WILDFIRE REGIME

WILDFIRE IS A PART TIME PROBLEM IN IRELAND The sporadic nature of wildfire outbreaks in Ireland, and the low level of reporting and awareness have largely made wildfire a ‘part– time’ problem, in contrast with those countries where large wildfire outbreaks are an annual certainty.

Due to the relatively low level of forest fires experienced in Ireland, and the infrequency of very large scale events, specialised forest fire fighting units do not exist within Irish fire services.

There are no full–time wildfire management specialists.With a few recent exceptions, most Fire services are configured to deal with mainly urban and structural fire fighting. Since 2011, some Irish fire services have undertaken specialist wildfire training, and are

29

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:22

Page 30

THE FOREST SERVICE

now equipped with specific wildland fire fighting equipment and doctrines.With the likelihood of increased problems in this area, an expansion of these developments is clearly warranted.

FORESTRY PERSPECTIVE After fire services, forestry is the sector traditionally most concerned with wildfire outcomes. Until the 1990’s, most forestry was state owned, and forest losses, while regrettable, generally did not involve a direct loss to individual persons or landowners apart from the state. Losses were generally small enough to be tolerable, relative to ongoing planting and acquisition levels for new forestry, and costs arising from fire could be absorbed in to wider estate management costs.

With the development and expansion of the private forest estate, the exposure of forests to fire risks is greatly increased. Private forest properties are younger, smaller, and in many cases have a longer edge, relative to the area of forest they contain. Many of these holdings are contiguous or in direct proximity to fire prone land types and vegetation.The risk exposure of these private holdings is greater than in larger, older and more fire resilient state owned counterparts.

Given the small scale of individual holdings, the financial tolerance for fire losses is greatly reduced. Despite the higher risk, the private forestry sector is very poorly equipped to deal with fire issues, in contrast with state forestry. The appropriate level of fire management and cooperative culture have yet to establish within private forestry, and within the conservation sector charged with managing other fire prone land types.

In contrast, within the land management sector Coillte Teoranta, and Bord na Mona have long maintained well organised fire fighting and planning capabilities within their own estates, and most field staff receive fire fighting training. Aerial fire fighting capability is readily available and aviation contractors are retained throughout the year to provide fire fighting services to Coillte Teoranta, as and when required. It is critical that existing fire cultures within these organisations are maintained, in order that it can be transferred to the other land management sectors similarly threatened by fire.

30

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH WILDFIRE A key element of wildfire management policy is the concept of resilience – the ability of land management to ‘bounce back’ after fire incidents. In this regard, the land management regime itself becomes the key component of a fire management strategy.

Developing improved fire resilience, particularly in conservation and forestry sectors will require the following:

1 Fire Management, not fire exclusion Exclusion of fire from the landscape is expensive and counter– productive. Exclusion of fire requires adequate enforcement measures, and enforcement is expensive and creates long term antagonism between stakeholders and the agencies charged with enforcement. It is better in the long run to accept that fire has a place in managing the land, and to encourage and facilitate its responsible use. Equally, how land is managed has a direct influence on fuel development and availability.Appropriate ‘fire–wise’ land management prescriptions should be the primary tool in mitigating wildfire hazard.

2 Partnership working The areas most affected by fire are usually multiple use landscapes, with multiple management objectives from landowners who own the land, often in commonage situations; state agencies who determine management policies for such lands; and third parties who visit the land landscapes for recreation, science, or tourism. Partnership working in local level fire groups such as the West Cork and Kerry Fire Interagency groups, or the Laois Fire Group, is an efficient and effective ‘grass roots’ approach to the problem of wildfire mitigation.

In the UK, Fire Operations Group activities extend to combined management planning of habitats, fire incident planning and interoperability development.This approach should also be developed in Ireland and adopted in all counties affected by fire, and is a proven way of enabling fire prevention and improved cooperation where incidents do occur.

Improved higher level policy coordination is also required between the departments that oversee policies that impact on wildfire. Local level partnership approaches such as fire interagency groups should

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:22

Page 31

THE FOREST SERVICE be mirrored by higher level groups coordinating wildfire management and mitigation activities of Departments in a similar fashion at a national level, and guiding the development of land management policies that may have a bearing on wildfire risk.

3 Training and knowledge transfer Private forestry, farming and conservation sectors do not have a fire management culture commensurate with the current risks.

Training and knowledge transfer is required to facilitate cooperation between landowners in terms of fire management, and in developing the risk assessment capabilities required for fire planning and mitigation measures on the ground.The potential of properly managed prescribed fire as a component of integrated land management has yet to be fully realised in Ireland. Investment in training for farmers, landowners and conservation managers in the area of prescribed fire will yield dividends in reduced fire losses and improved habitat conditions.

4. Responsibility Landowners need to assume responsibility for protecting their own private assets, including dwellings.This means having an up to date fire plan, based on assessment of current risks for the assets involved. It means having contact details for an appropriate response, and the training and equipment to make a response in a safe and techniques for uplands, and the integration of policies for the effective manner. Firebreaks must be maintained and hazardous management of uplands will be critical in ensuring the most vegetation treated in proximity to assets. appropriate land treatments are available, and are cost effective for landowners.

5. Knowledge ‘Knowledge gives strength to the arm’. Improved data regarding fire locations, incidence and extent will permit future responses to be more carefully focussed.A geospatial element to fire incident recording must be a priority.Vegetation risk assessment techniques will permit the most hazardous vegetation and locations to be prioritised, and will inform vegetation management techniques and training requirements for given areas. On a parallel track, enhanced knowledge of prescribed grazing regimes, livestock mixtures and improvements to the economic performance of upland farming, may enhance the role of agriculture as the primary fuel management driver in fire prone lands.The adoption of integrated land management

Conclusion The frequency and severity of recent wildfire incidents in Ireland should be taken as a warning signal. Issues with land management have resulted in conditions conducive to wildfire, and placed communities and valuable assets and habitats directly at risk.While wildfire mitigation may be a part–time problem to all of the sectors concerned, land management remains a full time concern.The development of an improved fire culture and partnerships and the integration of fire mitigation measures into better coordinated land management policies will go a long way towards addressing the issue of wildfire in Ireland into the future, whatever that holds.

31

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:22

Page 32

TEAGASC FORESTRY

BIRCH AND ALDER

The development of a sustainable supply of improved, adapted and healthy seed for Irish forestry, writes Dr. Ellen O'Connor, Birch and Alder Improvement Programme,Teagasc.

INTRODUCTION

G In the first instance parent material or seed will be available to

nurseries to produce and market improved planting material.

Two species of birch are native to Ireland; downy birch and silver birch. Birch is not listed on the recommended schedule of G As the supply system is put in place, forest owners can avail of timber species for forestry. This was due to the poor stem quality improved material to increase the potential value of their forests. of birch evident around the country. Crooked, forked and fissured G Trees of saleable diameter are available with reduced rotation stems are typical of birch growing in Ireland. However, the potential period as growth rate is targeted in the improvement process. of birch as a commercial species was recognized. Birch improvement G Better quality timber becomes available to the wood processing sector as the forests mature. programmes have been in place for many years in Scandinavian and eastern European countries and have contributed to the production of quality birch there. In Finland, after 40 years of birch improvement, seed from 2nd and 3rd generation seed orchards have volume growth about 29% higher with better technical quality (relative tapering reduced by 13% and relative branch diameter reduced by 10%) than non–improved material.

Both species of birch were included in an improvement programme that began in 1998.

WHAT’S A ‘GOOD QUALITY’ TREE? The focus of the improvement programme has been improved timber production and we use the word ‘good’ in that sense. At the beginning of the birch improvement programme, the definition of a ‘quality’ birch was outlined as:‘A single, persistent, cylindrical, lightly–branched stem without kinks, fluting, disproportionately–large branches or clusters of epicormic buds’.A good tree would be mature, have an acceptable level of volume and be disease–free too.

The same criteria were used in the alder programme when designating a tree of good quality.

Table 1: Overview of seed categories Name Description Source Identified Source identified seed comes from general or HOW TO BEGIN … specific locations within a single region of The three species are pioneer species and have some reproductive provenance or native seed zone with an characteristics that allow for a common approach to be applied altitude band but with no specific superior to all three. All are wind–pollinated, amenable to grafting, early qualities recognised. seed producers and produce a fairly reliable annual seed crop. It Selected Selected seed is collected from stands showing makes sense to work with the three in tandem.The approach to superior characteristics, e.g. better form, growth develop sources of improved planting stock generally is; rate, health.

G Start the improvement process by locating the best examples Qualified Qualified seed derives from the selection of of mature trees growing in natural stands or unimproved superior individual trees which have not plantations.These are called plus–trees (image 1). undergone any form of testing.

Tested Tested seed derives from the selection of individual trees or stands which have been evaluated for genetic quality or, in comparison to accepted standards, have been shown to be superior.

Alder is on the approved list of forestry species. A large increase in using alder in afforestation began about 15 years ago.A COFORD Alder Working Group was set up to address the seed and plant supply issues that resulted from this increased demand. One of the responses was to tie–in with the birch breeding project and to develop an alder breeding population.

The research is now at the stage where there is material suitable for scale–up and commercialisation. Qualified seed orchards for downy birch and alder were launched in 2013 at the Irish Forestry, Woodland and Bioenergy Show in Stradbally, Laois. A silver birch orchard is in development. Here we provide some background to the development of the orchards.

THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE The overall objective is the development of a supply of improved, adapted and healthy seed of birch and alder within the framework of the EU Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) regulations.The potential impact of superior material would be experienced along the whole supply chain.

32

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 33

TEAGASC FORESTRY G Collect all the plus–trees together by grafting scion wood

from the trees onto rootstock to generate a few clones of each superior tree.

G Put a set of the plus–tree grafts into a genebank for conservation G Put a set of the plus–tree grafts into a seed orchard.

G Collect seed from the plus–trees, either at the original location or from the grafts, to establish progeny trials. Progeny trials let us determine which plus–trees not only look good themselves but which ones will pass the quality characteristics on to subsequent generations.

A genebank was established with a set of the grafted clones to conserve the genotypes of the trees.This provides a backup if material is accidently lost in the breeding population. It also provides a ready–made, well–described resource for other investigations into the species.

LOCATING GOOD TREES (PLUS-TREES) For birch, a survey to identify good birch stands and individual plus–trees was conducted during 1998/1999. This was a very comprehensive survey. It was found that good stands of mature birch were rare and often the plus–trees were in small groups or were scattered throughout an area. Most of the stands were of unmanaged downy birch. Very few silver birch plus–trees were found at all.

The alder plus–trees were identified in 2006 and 2009, mainly in Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo.

WHAT’S IN THE SEED ORCHARDS? Scion wood is young vegetative growth, usually from the crown of the tree. For birch and alder, scion wood can be easily grafted onto seedling rootstock.The grafted clone allowed us to bring genetic copies of the superior trees back to the research station (image 2).

“The initial search for silver birch trees did not produce great numbers of plus-trees.

Then, by observing the progeny, it turned out that some of the trees, although pendulous in stature, were actually downy birch” Grafted clones of alder plus–trees were also used to establish a breeding population. A large polythene–covered house was used to establish an indoor seed orchard (image 3).This is designated as Qualified. It is planned to establish an outdoor alder orchard which will be easier to manage in the future.

For downy birch, seed was collected from the plus–trees and planted out in three provenance/progeny trials (image 4).When these trials were ten years old, another round of selection was applied.

The best quality trees from the best performing families were grafted and used to establish an indoor Qualified downy birch seed orchard.

The initial search for silver birch trees did not produce great numbers of plus–trees.Then, by observing the progeny, it turned out that some of the trees, although pendulous in stature, were actually downy birch.

To date, there has not been many silver birch of high quality found within Ireland on which to base an entirely native breeding population.This means that the development of a silver birch orchard is lagging behind the development of downy birch and alder orchards.

To boost numbers, we have received scion material from thirty– three plus–trees from the Scotland.

These Scottish plus–trees originated from the best trees selected in stands of birch in an area bounded by the rivers Clyde, Forth, Mersey and Humber in the south Scotland/north England region.

This is geographically and climatically close to Ireland.The hope is that we can take advantage of the selection of plus–trees carried out by our Scottish colleagues but we will have to check that the population is adapted to Irish conditions and will display the same better quality characters when grown here in Ireland.

33

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 34

TEAGASC FORESTRY

DO YOU HAVE A NATURAL STAND OR PLANTATION THAT YOU THINK IS ABOVE AVERAGE QUALITY? The research programme aims to bring the availability of birch and alder seed up from Source Identified to Qualified level.There is an intermediate step i.e. Selected seed. Selected is the term applied when seed is collected from above average stands or plantations that have been registered as seed stands with the Forest Service. If you have a stand that you think is above average quality, and you would be happy to have seed collected from the stand, you can apply to the Forest Service to have it registered as a seed stand.

SUMMARY Silver birch is the most important commercial broadleaved species in northern and Eastern Europe. It ranges from 11 per cent of the growing stock in Sweden to 28 per cent in Latvia.

High quality birch timber is used for high quality pulp, sawlog, veneer and turnery. Birch is also an excellent fuel wood with a calorific yield of about 15 MJ/kg with 30% humidity.

The most recent National Forest Inventory figures show that in Ireland alder makes up 2.4% and birch 5.9% (divided fairly equally between the two birch species) of the growing stock.The three species together make up one third of the broadleaf component of the forest area, with birch at 23%.

It appears that we grow quite a bit of birch and alder anyway and a supply of improved material would support the future output of quality broadleaf timber. Developing birch as a commercial timber would provide several advantages (see box).

TESTING OFFSPRING AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS Bringing good quality plus–trees together as a breeding population, either in an indoor seed orchard or an outdoor seed collection area, is a good start. However, testing the offspring of the plus–trees in progeny trials provides important information about the breeding population. We keep track of the parentage. In some cases, just the maternal tree is known but sometimes both parents are known.

Depending on what we know about the parentage we can apply statistical methods to determine;

ADVANTAGES OF DEVELOPING BIRCH AS A COMMERCIAL TIMBER • Birch, as a pioneer species, can help attain a 10% min. broadleaf requirement on poor quality soil.

• Birch, as a pioneer species, could be used more as first rotation soil improvers, nurse species and in mixtures.

• Birch has potential on acid sensitive sites.

• There is a desire to increase the diversity of Irish forestry species to provide some resilience against unforeseen forest pathogens.

G In the first instance we can find out which families have good height and diameter growth rates.There is no point in developing • There is a desire to increase the diversity of Irish forestry a perfectly formed but slow growing tree.

G We can determine how much improvement has been achieved in one generation by bringing the plus–trees together.

G We find out which families have above average percentage of good quality trees. We can adjust the content of the seed orchard according to the performance of the families.

G We can select for plus–trees within the progeny trials to move

the process to another generation of improvement.

We have progeny trials in place for the alder, downy birch and are just now planting progeny trials for the Scottish silver birch to ensure that they are adapted to Irish conditions before we use them.

34

species to provide habitats for other flora and fauna biodiversity.

• There is a desire to increase the diversity of Irish forestry species for landscape considerations.

• Improved material has the potential to produce valuable timber such as veneer and flooring.

• Birch has a short rotation – from 40 to 60 years.

TO FIND OUT MORE… Further details on this research project including contact details of Dr Ellen O’Connor can be found on the Teagasc Forestry website www.teagasc.ie/forestry.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 35

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 36

UCD FORESTRY

GETTING THE TIMBER TO MARKET ACCESSING THE VALUE IN PRIVATE FORESTS Marie Doyle, UCD Forestry, with information from the SIMWOOD.

I

n the 1996 publication ‘Growing for the Future’, the Government set out its ambitious plans for the development of Irish private forestry.This included a target of 17% forest cover by the year 2030 which was to be achieved by annual planting rates of up to 25,000 hectares. It was felt at the time that 17% cover was required to support a viable forest industry sector, to encourage competition, support employment and sustain a range of wood-related processing industries.

The planting rates needed to achieve 17% forest cover were never attained; the reasons for this are many and varied.

Notwithstanding this, private planting has increased significantly since the 1980’s and there are now over 360,000 hectares of forests in private ownership (the publicly owned forest estate extends to approximately 398,000 hectares). It is estimated that there are approximately 19,000 private forest owners and while the size of forested area varies greatly, the average private forest in Ireland is c. 9 hectares in extent. In the early years, the majority was established with commercial coniferous species but in more recent years, planting has diversified to include a wide range of species, both coniferous and broadleaf.

The justifications for continued State support for the development of private forestry, listed in the 1996 strategic plan, focussed almost exclusively on the commercialisation of the crop; it is explicitly stated in the terms of the Afforestation Scheme that “plantations established under this Scheme must meet full silvicultural standards and must be managed as a commercial crop for the realisation of a profit” (agriculture.gov.ie, 10/02/2014).

Estimates of future roundwood production have assumed that appropriate silvicultural interventions will be applied to private

36

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 37

UCD FORESTRY

forests but it is not clear how much of this is happening – it has been widely acknowledged that the fragmented nature of the private forest resource, issues of access and a lack of familiarity with forestry practices are stumbling blocks in bringing private timber to market.

The advent of a private forest sector brings its own challenges – the diversification in species, the improved regulations on habitat protection, water quality, biodiversity and the promotion of holistic management practises, have encouraged a broader view To this end, a new EU research project entitled ‘SIMWOOD’ of the ‘products’ associated with forests. We now value forests for a whole range of ‘goods and services’ including timber, recreation, (Sustainable Innovative Mobilisation of Wood) has begun and has the landscape enhancement, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. following aims: The sustainable forest management (SFM) paradigm has been 1 To understand the current and future motivation of forest adopted at national level and promotes the enhancement of all owners in Europe. productive functions of our forests – economic, social and 2 To promote forest governance and joint action of stakeholders environmental – and has greatly expanded the range of objectives across Europe. that forest owners have for their forests. When surveyed, many 3 To develop innovative silvicultural and multifunctional forest owners expressed a range of objectives for their forests; the management practices adapted to the different regions and majority indicated timber production was an objective and 75% forest types across Europe. of those surveyed indicated that they planned to thin the forest 4 To integrate forest ecosystem services while minimizing – though half of those acknowledged that they were unsure as environmental impacts. to how a thinning would be carried out, what volume of timber 5 To establish improved forest harvesting techniques and might be involved or how to identify a potential end–buyer (Ní technologies adapted to the different regions and forest types.

Dhubháin et al., 2010).

6 To recommend tailor–made wood mobilisation instruments In Ireland, we are only starting to develop a ‘forest culture’; our and incentives to policy makers on EU and national level. forest cover at 11% compares poorly with a European average of 42% and along with that, the skewed age distribution of our total forest area means that forests are still quite a ‘new’ landuse for many landowners. While the private forest estate accounts for a relatively minor component of the national harvest, the volume has been increasing in recent years and forecasts indicate that the potential is there for private forests to contribute significantly to increasing national timber yields in Ireland (Phillips, 2011).

In Europe, while forests have long been an important component of farming, owners’ changing objectives, the sub–division of forest holdings through inheritance and the urbanisation of forest owners have resulted in restricted access to the private timber resource.

It is widely accepted that demand for timber in all its forms is set to increase greatly – across all aspects of the ‘wood sector’ but perhaps most significantly in the use of wood as a renewable energy resource. It is also acknowledged that the potential exists to greatly expand timber production within sustainable levels as contemporary harvesting levels are well below the maximum sustainable allowable cuts.

37

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 38

UCD FORESTRY

This project has 28 partners, including 11 forest–sector based SMEs, in 11 European countries.The Irish partners are UCD Forestry, Forest Enterprises Limited (FEL) and the Wexford Wood Producers Ltd. (WPP). It is funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme FP7 under grant agreement n° 613762.

The main unused wood potentials are ‘locked’ in forests that belong to an estimated 16 million private forest owners in Europe.

Traditional owners, who regularly manage their forests themselves, are declining in numbers, mainly because of rural depopulation. As a consequence of this, the skills and capacity for active forest management by private owners are being lost. Urban forest owners however, are continuously increasing in number, because forest properties are often divided when inherited.The increasingly fragmented forestlands, two–thirds of which are smaller than 1 hectare, are difficult to access.They require new approaches, also because timber harvesting is no longer the main objective for urban owners and other uses such as recreation or nature

initiatives and effective support programmes, including an expert system to evaluate the impact of up–scaling innovative solutions to the larger EU context.To support the validation of the MOBILISER, the project’s 11 SME partners plan to run pilot projects, showcasing targeted forest use and quantifying tangible impacts on rural economies.

Further information on the SIMWOOD project is available from: Dr. Aine Ní Dhubháin, UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, Belfield, Dublin 4.

References Ní Dhubháin, A., Maguire, K., and Farrelly, N. 2010. The Harvesting Behaviour of Irish Private Forest Owners. Forest Policy and Economics 12 (7) : 489-544 Phillips, H. 2011. All-Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2011–2028. COFORD, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Dublin.

“It is estimated that there are approximately 19,000 private forest owners and while the size of forested area varies greatly, the average private forest in Ireland is c. 9 hectares in extent” conservation are gaining in importance. Mobilising wood is therefore, first of all, a mobilisation of forest owners.

To promote sustainable forest management, consultation with stakeholders will be promoted through Regional Learning Labs.

These are public discussions and events that will help build commitment for improved forest governance, policies, solutions and collaborative initiatives to encourage sustainable development of forest regions.

The main output will be a European Information System, the ‘SIMWOOD MOBILISER’ which will be a unique knowledge base of innovative practices and technologies, existing stakeholder

38

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 39

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 40

COMMERCIAL FEATURE (TREEMETRICS)

FOREST MAPPING & MONITORING (THE FOREST MAPPER™) Treemetrics in partnership with the European Space Agency have just announced the development of a new global forest mapping and monitoring product called Forest Mapper™ Forest Mapper

he product has first been released in Ireland to assist private also independently calculates the most suitable locations to collect forest owners to better understand their growing forest asset. these sample tree measurements on the ground.The technology “The Irish forest industry is entering a new exciting phase calculates the minimum number of plots required thus reducing the with the ever increasing emergence of private timber harvesting. cost associated with this operation.

A new phone application has been developed with accurate GPS Forest owners and buyers are now asking key questions about the quality, quantity and value of available timber” said Enda Keane from technology to help navigate the person on the ground to the right Treemetrics. In addition Forest owners with younger forest are keen locations to collect sample measurement.

The resultant data is automatically sent to the online system to to know when their forests will be suitable for harvest.

The key question being asked is what is the potential value of the calculate the forest value. We are making the job more cost efficient and easy to do. forest? Treemetrics have developed the system to provide an It certainly is an interesting time for the global forest industry with independent standard method for deciding the value of the forest.

The system utilises latest satellite images and global mapping technology the rapid emergence of new space borne technology, and mobile phone technology.Treemetrics is aiming to be the global leader for to assess the growing forest. Using patent pending image analysis software we are able to give an incredible new insight into the quality of the processing and hosting of this information.There are millions of

T

“Treemetrics have developed the system to provide an independent standard method for deciding the value of the forest.The system utilises latest satellite images and global mapping technology to assess the growing forest” the forest. For example we are now able to automatically count the individual trees as the crop matures. This will provide owners, forester and sawmillers with key planning information which will assist with the most efficient management decisions.

We will also assist with the ongoing automated monitoring of the crop. Forest disturbance caused by storms, disease and the increasing threat of theft can be remotely monitored.

To accurately assess the value of the forest a person needs to visit the forest to collect sample measurements of the crop.The system

40

private forest owners globally who need easy to understand information.

“For sure knowledge and cost barriers are falling as a result of this technology” said Keane.

The company will be announcing key partnerships to assist with the roll out of the system nationally and internationally over the coming months.

If you are interested in getting your forest assessed and valued we can be contacted at email: info@treemetrics.com or

by Tel. 021 7304630.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 41

COMMERCIAL FEATURE (TREEMETRICS)

RTFI™ (REAL TIME FOREST INTELLIGENCE)

3D Sweden Image

reemetrics have recently begun to roll out a new system to remotely monitor and control forest harvesting machines.

RTFI is a timber harvesting management system which consists of an on–line web platform and in-vehicle devices.

The system provides real time monitoring of harvesting production including the GPS position of every tree that is cut.The forest owner, harvesting manager and sawmill

T

manager can analyse and control the flow of wood from multiple forest sites from the comfort of their home or office.

This allows for better use of the forest resource by helping to bring lean manufacturing principles to the wood supply chain.

Knowing the live harvesting production will help the different stakeholders to plan the timely transport of logs to the market and minimise the levels of logs sitting on

roadside.This will help to alleviate very real fears of potential timber theft and downgrade of the wood quality as timber is left on the forest roadside for too long.

Accurate decisions can now be made both on and off site.

This product was developed in conjunction with the European Space Agency and has attracted the attention of international machine and forest owners.

RTFI

Harvester Session Select Harvester - 015 - Alan Houlihan - Komatsu (Valmet) 41

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 42

BROADLEAF AFFORESTATION

BROADLEAF AFFORESTATION

Coppice–with–standards: An old silvicultural system with new potential?

The last two decades have seen a dramatic increase in the area of broadleaf afforestation in Ireland. Some of these plantations are not performing as well as was expected when planted. Dr. Ian Short and Jerry Campion,Teagasc Forestry Development Dept., report.

Figure 1. Example structure of coppice-with-standards prior to coppice felling (top) and directly after coppice and selected standards are felled (bottom). Coppice rotation = 20 years; Standards rotation = 80 years.

Numbers denote age of standards.standards.

n 2010 Teagasc began a 5–year COFORD–funded research programme on the silviculture of broadleaf plantations (the B–SilvRD project) with UCD, one part of which is investigating the rehabilitation of poorly performing pole–stage (10 – 20–year–old) stands. As part of this research coppice–with–standards is being considered as a rehabilitation system.

I

are currently managed as coppice–with–standards, where the standards are left to produce seed for stump reproduction. It is surprising that a silvicultural system that is still in extensive use in many industrialized temperate and boreal countries (see Table 1), and was once relatively common in Ireland and the UK, has so fallen out of favour during the last two centuries.

WHAT IS COPPICING?

Table 1. Estimated areas (ha) of coppice woodlanda in industrialized temperate/boreal countries

Coppice is managed as an even–aged single–storey crop which is cut on a regular rotation, resulting in the regrowth of multiple stems from the stump.The rotation length is dependent on product requirement, species and growth rate. Coppice–with–standards is a traditional silvicultural system that produces a multi–storied stand consisting of a lower storey of an even–aged coppice underwood and an uneven–aged partial upper storey of standard trees grown at wide spacing which is treated as high forest.The lower storey is cut regularly to produce small material whilst the objective of the upper storey is to produce large timber.

HISTORY OF COPPICING Coppicing was widely practised in both Ireland and Britain until the end of the 19th century when the increased availability of coal during the industrial revolution reduced the demand for domestic and industrial charcoal and fuelwood. Coppicing has continued to decrease. In Britain in 1905 there were 230,000 ha in coppice.This has dramatically reduced during the last century with the 2011 National Forest Inventory identifying approximately 2,000 ha of coppice.The system has a long history of extensive and continued use in Europe: it is still widely used in France as the most common silvicultural system. It was also common in Belgium in the 1990’s where the major stand types in private woodlands in the Wallonian region were conifer (55%), coppice– with–standards (20%), coppice (11%) and hardwood high forest (14%) and In Austria where half of the approximate 150,000 ha of oak stands were managed as coppice or coppice–with standards.

Over 3.5 million ha of Italian forest, 43% of the total forest area,

42

Region Utilizable Non–utilizableb Nordic and Baltic 16,000 0 Central Europe 7,687,000 64,000 Southern Europe 13,506,000 4,411,000 Commonwealth of Independent States 12,643,000 16,071,000 USA & Canada 0 0 Australasia & Japan 56,000 0 Total 33,908,000 20,546,000 a Figures are for both simple coppice and coppice–with–standards. b Non–utilizable, not available for wood supply for a variety of conservation, protection, or economic reasons.

THE MANAGEMENT OF COPPICE–WITH–STANDARDS The management of coppice–with–standards requires greater silvicultural skill than the majority of other silviculture systems.

Generally, the forest is arranged into a number of coupes, also known as cants, corresponding to the rotation length of the coppice, such that one coppice cant can be harvested annually.

The coppice rotation length is normally from 10–30 years.

When the coppice of a cant is cut, some existing standards are retained for at least another coppice rotation whilst the remainder are felled.

A number of new standards of similar age as the coppice are selected from natural regeneration, preferably from seed origin, and reserved. Vacancies caused by the removal of standards or the

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 43

BROADLEAF AFFORESTATION Figure 2. Poor quality oak:ash mixture prior to intervention

death of coppice stools are filled up using seedling natural regeneration or transplants to ensure a future supply of both coppice and standards. After numerous coppice rotations the result is a multi–aged stand that consists of an even–aged coppice understorey with a multi–aged overstorey (Figure 1).

The key to successful coppice–with–standards management is getting the right balance of standards per hectare and the right distribution of ages.

The number of standards depends upon their target diameter at felling, the target rotation age and the shade cast by the standards and the shade–tolerance of the coppice.

Generally the crowns of the standards should not occupy more than 50% of the ground area with the area equally apportioned amongst the different age classes.

The number of stems of each age class therefore reduces with increasing age and canopy size (see Table 2 for example).

Table 3. A selection of species suitable for coppice-withstandards Coppice Hazel Hornbeam Birch Ash Oak Sycamore Willow Alder Holly Lime Sweet chestnut

Standards Oak Ash Sycamore Larch Sweet chestnut Norway maple Cherry Birch

ADVANTAGES OF COPPICE–WITH–STANDARDS

Coppice–with–standards can fulfil a multitude of woodland owner objectives with a wide range of additional options, such as farm shelter, shooting, small roundwood production for fuelwood and fencing, production of valuable sawlog, landscape enhancement Age of Number of and wildlife conservation.The system can provide material of Approximate canopy cover m ha standard (years) stems to remain (ha ) various sizes and therefore can supply local demand for fencing Average tree Total material, pulpwood, fuelwood poles, charcoal, turnery wood and 20 50 20 1,000 timber.

40 30 33 1,000 The inclusion of coppicing within the system provides early 60 13 77 1,000 returns, and since the standards are grown with their crowns entirely open, they exhibit unusually rapid growth, resulting in 80 7 143 1,000 the production of a few trees of exceptional size and value in a Total 100 4,000 comparatively short time.The cash–flow resulting from a well– managed coppice–with–standards system will be more stable than that from high forest because the same amount of each SPECIES SELECTION The coppice species must be able to tolerate some shade, produce product will be harvested at the end of each coppice rotation.

The predominant product from coppice–with–standards, in satisfactory stool shoots and be marketable in small dimensions.

The overstorey is particularly suited to light–demanding species terms of volume, is small roundwood from the coppice stools.

Oak may produce 3–7 m3 ha–1 yr–1 on a 20–35 year rotation whilst with rapid growth and valuable timber and may be the same as, ash, sycamore and other hardwoods may produce 6–10 m3 ha–1 yr–1 or different from, the understorey species. Ideally the overstorey on a 20–25 year rotation.This is imminently suitable for firewood. species should cast only light shade.

It has been estimated that 4–5 hectares of coppice on a 20–25 Table 3 provides a selection of species suitable for the coppice– year rotation, arranged as 0.25 ha cants, will yield 8 dry tonnes of with–standards system.

Table 2. Number of standards in coppice cut on a 20–year rotation

-1

2

-1

43

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 44

BROADLEAF AFFORESTATION Figure 3. Oak:ash mixture post intervention

was little competition from the side.The stem form of the oak in the stand was very poor (Figure 2).The best ash stems (93 stems ha–1 per plot) have been selected for retention as standards and the remainder have been felled. All the oak, except those very few stems that exhibited some potential as standards (33 and 120 stems ha–1 for the two plots respectively), has been stumped back (Figure 3). It is hoped that the resultant oak coppice will exhibit greater vigour than the original planting due to the release from overhead competition, deeper and more extensive root systems and a better–developed forest soil.

The conversion of the stand to coppice–with–standards will DISADVANTAGES OF COPPICE–WITH– provide some flexibility for future management. If the coppice STANDARDS As was highlighted previously, the management of coppice– with– growth rate is acceptable, a decision can then be made to either standards requires greater silvicultural skills. It also requires more single the coppice regrowth (remove all coppice regrowth labour than monoculture high forest or simple coppice.The yield except the best shoot per stool), resulting in a two–tiered high of coppice in coppice–with–standards can also be less than that forest, or to maintain it as coppice–with–standards. If the growth rate is unacceptable, then the coppiced area can be reconstituted of simple coppice due to the competition for light from the via natural regeneration seedlings or replanted with a suitable overstorey. fuelwood per year, sufficient to heat a typical house.The Irish market for firewood has grown by 35% over the period 2006 – 2010 with nearly 200,000 m3 of firewood (roundwood equivalent) sold in 2010. With the current and expected future high demand for firewood, coppice–with–standards has increasingly greater potential as a multi–functional silvicultural management system in Ireland.The coppice–with–standards system provides a multi– strata, multi–age canopy cover which provides a multitude of habitats and highly rated visual amenity.

“A coppice–with–standards system is being trialled as a method of bringing a poorly performing pole–stage ash/oak mixture in Co. Mayo into a productive state.Two plots have been established within a stand that was planted in 1992” However, in some situations the overstorey can protect the coppice from frost.The standards can often be more branchy and short–stemmed than those grown in high forest due to reduced lateral competition.This can lead to an increased requirement for judicious pruning.

PILOT TRIAL A coppice–with–standards system is being trialled as a method of bringing a poorly performing pole–stage ash/oak mixture in Co. Mayo into a productive state.Two plots have been established within a stand that was planted in 1992. It was original planted with 1:3 lines of ash: oak, respectively, with lines 2 m apart. Since being planted, the stand had been largely neglected resulting in the ash being in a situation resembling free–growth prior to intervention because the oak growth rate was poor, most likely due to suppression from the adjacent ash, and therefore there

44

species to create a two–tiered high forest. Whichever choice is finally made, the end result will hopefully be an aesthetically pleasing productive mixed broadleaf stand that will become financially beneficial to the owner in later years.

CONCLUSION The coppice–with–standards system has been successful in the past in Europe, the UK and Ireland. It may have potential to be successful again in Ireland. It can result in aesthetically pleasing, biodiverse, sustainable and productive stands producing products of various sizes.

With the increased demand for fuelwood and greater broadleaf plantation area, some of which may require alternative silvicultural management to the conventional due to poor performance, the coppice–with–standards system has the potential to fulfil many objectives.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 45

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 46

COILLTE

COILLTE CALLS FOR

RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE (RHI) Forestry contributes towards reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuel imports, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and improving domestic fuel security. Des O’Toole, Biomass Business Development Manager for Coillte explains. he bio–energy sector stimulates rural development and local job creation and provides a market for our domestic forestry and energy crops.

A modest but focused Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will stimulate significant levels of inward investment in renewable heat allowing industry to maintain competiveness.

Many businesses are exposed to the volatile nature of traditional oil based fossil fuel prices. Unlike oil or gas; biomass is carbon neutral and Coillte offers long term supply contracts at energy rates typically 50% lower than current oil prices. It is clear, we will not meet our RES–H target and it is clear Ireland will be fined.At this stage, it is about minimising the cost of these fines.We have shown it will cost the Exchequer nothing to do the right thing.We need to act now’’.

The Bio–energy sector supports local jobs in timber harvesting, chipping, haulage and supply logistics. It supports engineering firms involved in biomass boiler design and installation. It reduces energy costs for industry allowing them to displace fossil fuel and maintain competitiveness. However, it is also a sector, completely lacking in any support.

Coillte set out to examine the following hypothesis; would a modest Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), focused on industrial scale users stimulate significant levels of economic activity, and generate returns that would exceed the initial capital investment to the Exchequer?.

T

Fig 1

Fig 1 : Wood chip versus oil prices 2009 – 2013 The introduction of a RHI would offset the initial capital investment thereby increasing the economic viability of a project.A RHI would then direct the optimum use of our indigenous biomass resource; to large scale; highly efficient industrial scale, biomass boilers.

This incentive was successfully introduced in the UK in Dec 2011 and has resulted in 531MW of installed capacity (to Sept 2013) spread over; in excess of 2000 installations thereby stimulating many jobs within the sector.

“The Bio–energy sector supports local jobs in timber harvesting, chipping, haulage and supply logistics. It supports engineering firms involved in biomass boiler design and installation. It reduces energy costs for industry allowing them to displace fossil fuel and maintain competitiveness” IRELAND WILL NOT MEET RES – H TARGET Renewable heat is a key pillar of our EU2020 Targets under National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP), where Ireland set a 12% Fig 2

WHY DO WE NEED A RHI? A RHI is a payment system, for the generation of heat, from renewable energy sources similar to the REFIT scheme for electricity. Generators of renewable heat are paid an agreed rate in c/kWhr for hot water or steam which they generate and use themselves.The payment is for an agreed period and index linked.

Biomass boilers are approximately 50% cheaper to operate than an equivalent oil boiler (Fig. 1).

But, the significant capital cost of these boilers can result in a longer than acceptable capital payback.The Irish food manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors are now demanding green energy solutions but capital payback must typically be less than four years before a project will be approved. Fig 2: Ireland RES–H Progress

46

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 47

COILLTE

CASE STUDY 1

RES–H target.The renewable heat sector however remains largely undeveloped. Heat from renewable energy sources has grown slowly COILLTE ESTABLISH NEW BIOMASS SUPPLY to 5.2% (2012) mainly as a result of wood waste utilised in the timber HUB IN DONEGAL processing sector. Based on our current trajectory Irelands RES–H Coillte are underpinning the future sustainable energy supply of a target cannot and will not be achieved (Fig. 2). range of customers in the North West.These contracts displace several Ireland now remains exposed to the risk of fiscal penalties if we thousand litres of oil per week by providing more competitive energy continue to do nothing to address the RES–H shortfall. Penalties may costs for the businesses concerned thereby helping to maintain arise in the form of Statistical Transfers of renewable energy, to make competiveness and secure local jobs into the future. up the gap to our RES objective; or through direct EU Non–Compliance Having recently secured a number of biomass fuel supply agreement’s Fines. Our analysis covers a range of possible penalties. it was necessary to establish a suitable supply depot infrastructure Our 2020 RES–H Target of 12% is equivalent to 4% renewable energy to fulfil our operation and logistics requirements. share of Ireland’s projected gross Total Final Energy Consumption.

Fig 3 Therefore, our current RES–H shortfall of 6% is equivalent to an overall RES shortfall of 2%. According to our NREAP, Total Final Energy Consumption in 2020 is expected to be 14,142 ktoe.Therefore our current RES–H shortfall is 283 ktoe which equates to approx 438MW of installed thermal capacity required to bridge the gap.

We are of the opinion that 438MW could not be installed by 2020 given other market constraints such as availability of fibre and actual industrial heat opportunities off gas grid on the island and the associated lead times for planning and EPA amendments.We believe between 120MW and 160MW of new thermal capacity in the industrial heat sector is still possible and could be fully operational by 2020 if supports were introduced.

IMPACT ON THE EXCHEQUER OF A RHI SCHEME Having analysed both the positive and negative impacts of the scheme (Fig 3), exchequer cash flows were analysed against a range possible Fig 3 : Aerial View of Biomass Depot subsidies and projected new installed capacity was informed by the Coillte now operates a new biomass fuel supply hub located between potential of a project actually proceeding based on the impact of the Letterkenny and Ballybofey.The depot comprises of a large secure subsidy on the overall project economics and payback using typical log storage yard with new fuel storage sheds and a weighbridge and financial hurdle rates for new capital investment. is operated under contract by Ecowood Energy Systems who are responsible for the day to day running of the depot.This depot Exchequer Cash Flows serves clients as far West as Kilcar and East into Northern Ireland.

Positive Impacts Fig 4 PAYE Tax PRSI Contributions Universal Social Charges Social Welfare Savings Negative Impacts Lost Excise Duties from HFO RHI Subsidy Cost EU Fines Administration of RHI Scheme When the cost of EU fine’s are considered, in absolutely all cases, it resulted in a net positive impact for the Exchequer and towards our RES–H target.

Our analysis shows that with a subsidy of 1.5c/kWh, we could expect Fig 4: New Biomass Storage Sheds Coillte is committed to a strategy that matches renewable energy to secure an uptake in installed thermal capacity of between 120 and 160 MW by 2020 which equates to an RHI Cost to the exchequer of requirements with local biomass supply and pulp feed stock is sourced from both Coillte and private sources in the North West region.These between €13.5 and €18M. It would progress Ireland between 0.55 – 0.75% points against our logs are sourced and delivered on a pre–planned basis several months in advance.

2020 Target of 16% of gross Total Final Energy Consumption. It would The logs are systematically stacked for open air drying down to the create 102 – 135 new jobs with many more indirectly in forestry and logistics. It would provide a market for 255 – 340,000 Tonnes of required moisture contents specific to each customer’s boiler requirements.

The key to ensuring quality wood chip at the correct moisture content biomass opening up opportunities for both private sector forestry is to manage stock rotation and replenishment and to ensure suitable and energy crops. It would provide a net benefit to the Exchequer of air flow through the stacks. Stacks are also covered during the winter between €9.5 and €217M depending on the level of fines imposed months. for missing our target.

47

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 48

COILLTE Fig 5

Co. Donegal.The solution chosen was a Uniconfort four fire cycle steel boiler with a heat output of 1400kW to produce steam at an operating pressure of 6 bar, fitted with a base designed for the installation of a grate mechanical auger burner.The whole combustion chamber is provided with a thick refractory lining.

Fig 7

Fig 5: Logs are sourced from the North West region Each depot will have its own specific characteristics and seasonal variations in moisture need to be planned and controlled with great care.This can only be gained through experience and by having a strong partnership with your contractor.

All wood chip is being produced strictly in accordance with quality specifications set out in I.S. CEN/TS 14961 : 2005. Moisture content samples are taken in pre–approved aluminium sampling trays for testing by the oven dry method. Particle size is controlled during the chipping process by the provision of the correct size screens on the chipper feed. Regular testing is undertaken to assess the percentage of fines.

Fig 7: Boiler installation at Botany Weaving The biomass material is fed from the fuel store by a hydraulic pusher device into a trough that feeds up to the boiler infeed.The feeding system incorporates a cutting system for reducing any potential oversize particles and min–max sensors for activating the feed and a fire protection system.

Fig 8

Fig 6

Fig 6: Fuel Quality Testing Wood chip delivery vehicles comprise of larger moving floor trailers (20 to 24T loads) to smaller tipping vehicles with side blowers (8 to 16T loads) depending on the specific customer’s fuel handling and on–site storage infrastructure. Biomass is delivered and checked for compliance of moisture content, particle size and percentage fines.

Each client is then invoiced per Giga Joule of energy delivered.

CASE STUDY 2 BOTANY WEAVING UNDERPIN SECURITY OF SUPPLY FOR THEIR NEW INDUSTRIAL BIOMASS INSTALLATION Botany Weaving was established in 1934 and today, they are a market leader at the cutting–edge of high–quality aviation and ground transportation interior textile manufacture, employing over 100 people. In a competitive environment and with a growing concern about rising fossil fuel costs and increased fuel price volatility, management at Botany Weaving began to investigate the renewable alternatives for their production facility located at Kilcar,

48

Fig 8: Biomass Fuel handling The wood chip fuel delivery reception and storage area is located in an above ground fuel store with moving floor hydraulic pusher device to feed fuel into the trough through a slot in the end wall.

Fig 9: Fuel store with moving Fig 9 floor grate Coillte supply wood chip twice a week and as a direct result of the new installation,Botany Weaving are now displacing several thousand litres of oil per week and have reduced their energy costs by in excess of 50% thereby securing local jobs for the plant into the future.

For more information contact: Tel:01 201 1111, visit www.coillte.ie Twitter:@coilltenews or also email:info@coillte.ie Des O'Toole: Business Development Manager – Biomass | Coillte.

Contact: Unit 3.1, Woodford Business Park, Santry, Dublin 17, Ireland, Email: Des.O'Toole@coillte.ie Tel: +353 1 8628491.

Fax: +353 1 8427028. Mob: +353 86 2301234.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 49

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 50

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

SPECIALISTS IN FOREST SALES Selling forests is a specialised market and requires expert knowledge and expertise to value forests accurately and present them to the correct market.

his is particularly true when marketing mature forests or semi–mature forests, forests over the age of twenty years.

When a forest is over twenty years of age, all the premiums are paid and the current value of eth crop is dependant solely on the value of the future timber income.Therefore, the higher yielding crops would be more valuable than lower yield class. Lower yield class crops take much longer to reach maturity and therefore final payment is many years away. Whereas with fast growing high yield class, yield class 24+, a crop of Sitka spruce, may have a rotation or may be ready for clear fell at year thirty, compared to yield class 14 crop which may not be ready for clear feel until year 45 which is 15 years later.

Standard practice for valuing forests is to apply a discount rate.

That is applying the present value of the future clear fell value.

Crops which are discounted 15 years more than another are much less valuable than the other rotation crops.

T

on the market would place it in the busiest market place for any forest property.

That place is www.forestsales.ie .This has been noticed in the last six months that a number of private forests have been sold privately either through the owner selling them to private individuals or to auctioneering firms not familiar or qualified in marketing forests. We know of two reasonably large forests which were sold for considerably less than their market value as up to €50,000 less than their market value – one of these was in the Northwest and the other in the south of the Country.

There is a solitary lesson to be learned from each of these examples.

It is vital to get a qualified, professional opinion and place your forest in the appropriate market if one wants to get the full market value for their forest.

There have been quite a number of storms recently in December and continuing into January and February 2014.These storms

“Standard practice for valuing forests is to apply a discount rate.That is applying the present value of the future clear fell value. Crops which are discounted 15 years more than another are much less valuable than the other rotation crops” Different buyers and valuers apply different rates of discount i.e. different discount rate, depending on their experiences, risk etc. and of course, the demand for profit margin.

However all investors and buyers which buy property and forests are no different in that regard, wishing to buy their assets at as low a price as possible which in the long term gives a better return, if there is competition for forests, investors compete with each other and invariably the price goes up as they review their level of risk, discount rate, margin of profitability etc.Therefore it is important that someone considering placing a forestry property

50

have been the first big test for many private forests that have been recently thinned and from what has been seen around the country, that mounding and cultivation method used in many private forests has proved to be a very successful and correct method of establishing forests as many of these forests have been recently thinned and have not suffered major wind blow.This is because the drainage is good and allows the root to develop and provides strong anchor for the tree. However if this drainage system has been damaged such as animals trespassing, the lands which invariably causes damage to ground and blocked drains can lead to water logging, poorer root development and subsequent wind blow. www.forestsales.ie has just commenced the marketing of a large forest portfolio in Donegal.The forest portfolio is located in Donegal and Sligo in six locations – five in Donegal and one in South Sligo.

The minimum area is 35 acres and up to almost 100 acres at one location.The forests in general have good access and one with road frontage. Forests have farmer rate premium to be drawn up to €143000 to be drawn over the next number of years.

For further details, contact Paul Lafferty, forestsales.ie or log and register to: www.forestsales.ie.

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:23

Page 51

F&E Winter 2014

20/02/2014

11:24

Page 52