Forestry & Energy Review - Vol 1 Issue 2 Winter/Spring 2011/2012

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FOREST FIRES

EUCALYPTUS

ADVICE FROM THE FOREST SERVICE

SHORT ROTATION COPPICE TO MEET YOUR ENERGY NEEDS

>> SEE PAGE 30

>> SEE PAGE 44

TENDING & THINNING OF BROADLEAF WOODLANDS >> SEE PAGE 34

Forestry&Energy Volume 1 Issue 2 Winter/Spring 2011/12 Price €3.95. £2.95 (Stg)

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THE VOICE OF FORESTRY & RENEWABLE ENERGY

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Foreword/Contents/Credits

Forestry&Energy R E V I E W

Volume 1 Issue 2 Winter/Spring 2011/12

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Foreword

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elcome to the 2nd Edition of Forestry and Energy Review Magazine.

This issue will cover a selection of key topics which include an Overview of the Forestry Industry in Ireland by UCD Department of Forestry, while D-Plant Horticulture continues their series on Eucalyptus – Short Rotation Forestry to meet Irish Energy Needs.

The Forest Service offer necessary advice to farmers, landowners and the public to avoid a repeat of the devastating forest fires we have seen in recent years.

This edition also provides a series of profiles including Silvatec, Forestry Training & Education Ireland and Oakleaf Forestry.

Murray Timber Group provide incisive answers to the questions in our new Q & A Section, while Christy Nolan has strong views in his Letter to The Editor.

We trust you enjoy reading this publication which will aim to provide a voice for the Forestry and Energy sectors.

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

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

Features 30 FORESTRY AND FOREST FIRES The Forest Service advise there is much that farmers, land owners and the public can do to avoid a repeat of the devastating fires we have seen in recent years.

34 THINNING OF BROADLEAF Dr Ian Short, Broadleaf Silviculture researcher, Teagasc Forestry Development Department offers a simple guide to selecting quality trees.

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44 EUCALYPTUS – SHORT ROTATION FORESTRY TO MEET IRISH ENERGY NEEDS In our continued series on Eucalyptus growing, D-Plant Horticulture offers some practical advice.

48 FARM FORESTRY UCD Department of Forestry provides an overview of Farm Forestry in Ireland.

Profiles 26

4 SILVATEC Silvatec are pleased to announce Dave Power Plant (Cork) Ltd as the new partner for sales and service in Ireland.

26 MURRAY TIMBER GROUP Established in 1977 Murray Timber Group (MTG) has grown to become one of the largest, progressive and flexible sawmills.

38 FORESTRY TRAINING AND EDUCATION IRELAND

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FTEI is currently charged with the administration and management of the nationally approved forestry skills training programme.

43 OAKLEAF FORESTRY Oakleaf Forestry is a Firewood and Forestry Equipment distribution company based in County Armagh supplying some of Europe’s finest farm and forestry machinery.

Until the next time………

The Publishers Forestry & Energy Review

48 FORESTRY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN UCD Forestry is the only university forestry programme in Ireland and has a long and prestigious heritage dating back to 1927.

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

Contributors: Stefanie Duesberg,Aine Ni Dhubhain & Deirdre O’Connor, Maarten Nieuwenhuis (UCD), Richard Cregg (The Forest Service), Dr Ian Short (Teagasc) Distribution: Easons,Newspread,WNS

Published by: Select Media Ltd, 19 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 2011 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.

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SILVATEC

DAVE POWER PLANT NEW PARTNER IN IRELAND FOR SILVATEC SKOVMASKINER A/S At Silvatec we are very pleased to announce Dave Power Plant (Cork) Ltd. as our new sales & service partner for Ireland.

ilvatec has had a select circle of customers in Ireland from the THE SILVATEC PRODUCTS time of Silvatec Ireland Ltd. being the spearhead of operations HARVESTER in the country.

Sleipner is the strongest horse among both gods and humans in Our Irish customers in particular appreciate purpose built Nordic mythology and is easily recognized by its 8 legs. Even the Silvatec machines for their versatility, robust design, productivity master of all gods, Odin, chose Sleipner as his horse to face the most and ability to work on both very steep slopes as well as soft ground. difficult challenges.

Our Irish customers using excavators as base machines have also In that spirit, the Silvatec Sleipner harvester has been designed and come to appreciate Silvatec solutions as the 560 harvesting head in developed by an industrial designer in close cooperation with several particular has been designed with the extra strength and durability long established contractors, that way all possible refinements have been taken into consideration to make the working day in the forest required when fitted on an excavator.

During the financial crisis the Irish market took a downturn and as pleasant and efficient as possible.

The Sleipner is an 8-wheeled machine with a very low centre of has for a long period only been a shadow of its former being. Getting gravity, combined with the fact that it can be supplied in varying financing to buy machines is still one of the biggest road blocks widths to suits a wide variety of terrain and job requirement, from for our customers, but on a positive note we have seen a rise in 2.95 m width offering maximum stability when handling large trees activities and interest throughout 2011.

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Speaking with Kevin Bannon of DPP on their new partnership:“I have met with existing & past Silvatec customers and the feedback is very positive on the performance in Irish conditions” In order to support our customer’s increased activity level Silvatec on slopes down to 2.65 m width offering exceptional maneuverability started searching for the right partner to provide sales and service in in the Irish forests, while still retaining its class leading ground clearance.

The Sleipner is equipped with the latest and most advanced engine Ireland.

In that respect we have found an ideal match with Dave Power technology from Mercedes and crane technology from Mesera Plant Ltd. who from the very beginning has shown a highly professional, Loglift. Engine performance is monitored and controlled through straight forward, proactive and customer oriented approach – and IQAN and the dedicated and highly user friendly TM system controls happened to be looking also for expansion into the forestry segment crane and harvesting head. The spacious cabin of the Sleipner harvester has large rounded windows, which gives the driver a perfect on the basis of their skills and knowhow from years of dealing with view through 360˚. compaction and road paving equipment.

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SILVATEC The machine is extremely versatile and is capable of a variety of different tasks, such as thinning, clear felling, feller bunching as well as operation on steep slopes – right up to 45˚- with the advanced BOSS all-terrain system.

FORWARDER Silvatec’s newly developed forwarder Sleipner 814TF is the latest addition to the Sleipner series of machines. It is developed with special focus on driver comfort and features a specially designed cabin with 270˚ rotation for optimum view. The cabin can be tilted in all directions allowing the driver to select the ergonomically best and most comfortable position in all situations.The forwarder is also designed to be the logistical workhorse in forest operations. As a member of the Sleipner family it is of course built from the same high quality components and high tensile steel as the harvester.

CHIPPING CONCEPT The Silvatec Grane chipper is the spearhead of a unique industrial chipping concept comprising the self-propelled chipper and a chip forwarder, both designed to deliver large quantities of chips for use as bio-fuel.The concept was initially developed in cooperation with the largest supplier of wood chips in Denmark – Danish forest managing and contracting company, Hededanmark – and offers the most efficient and economical logistic setup available in the Market to retrieve bio mass in the forest and deliver finished chips at roadside either in stacks or containers ready for road transport.

The Silvatec chipping concept has proven itself over more than 15 years as an efficient, low cost platform for industrial production of high quality bio-fuel chips for heating plants in Northern Europe.

The unique benefits are obtained through chipping directly in the forest where the trees have been felled without being delimbed, thus eliminating unnecessary transportation of “empty volume” or

“We are delighted with our new partners;Ronnie Curran and the factory have been so supportive in the set up,and they always seem to be at the end of a phone with an eagerness to help”

For further information on Silvatec parts, sales and service please contact: Dave Power Plant (Cork) Ltd., Midleton, Co. Cork. Tel: 021 4632011. Web: www.davepowerplant.com or contact Kevin Bannon on 086 6005544 5

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SILVATEC

suffering a loss of potentially profitable bio mass’ that would otherwise follow from delimbing and forwarding of logs to roadside chipping locations. Bio mass in tree crowns and branches may add up to as much as 25% in extra chip volume with no extra effort.

The Silvatec Grane 8325CH chipper features significant novelties in its most recent version.The chipper now comes with a larger engine (240 kW) offering increased transmission torque and tractive power. IQAN control system to control engine, crane and chipper feeding mechanism.A larger chip container (20m3), larger NAF bogies for increased terrain handling capabilities and 700 tyres to keep ground pressure down.

Both the Silvatec 450 and 560 are now available with Hultdins Super Cut in conjunction with Parkers F11-IP saw motor providing the ultimate cutting speed and overall productivity in use with the Silvatec Sleipner harvester.

The 665MD70 is a large harvesting head for heavy duty timber – delimbing diameter up to 700 mm, felling diameter up to 800 mm – The rollers are slightly inclined providing an extremely good grip on the logs.The head has a 100 cm saw bar and 19 ccm saw motor, with an additional top saw if required.The 665 head is typically fitted to tracked carriers from 25 to 35 tonnes.

The Silvatec harvesting head family joins forces with the TM2200 control and measuring system.The TM2200 system is a multioptional system incorporating a “state of the art” touch screen display, yet it is exceptionally operator friendly. Price, distribution, logging limits and colour marking matrixes are used to ensure full optimization and added value to the harvesting operation. Optional equipment includes GPS mapping and electronic calipers for accurate calibration. Data transfer via e-mail and remote service and fault finding via internet connection to the Silvatec factory.

Silvatec also produces multiple stem handling feller-buncher heads for use in bio-energy applications, site clearance work and amenity work such as clearing railway lines. In addition a tiltable grapple saw is available for fitting on forwarders or self-propelled chippers.The tilting action allows single stems to be felled and loaded directly to a forwarder in one action.

“Silvatec,Dave Power Plant & an Irish company are already in negotiations to bring in the first operational whole tree chipping harvester & forwarder in 2012” HARVESTING HEADS The Silvatec harvesting head family comprises heads for all purposes and in all sizes.They are commonly designed for: long life - Maximum efficiency and performance - Flexibility in application.

Our 235MD35 is an ideal head for first and second thinnings with a delimbing diameter up to 350mm and a felling diameter up to 450 mm. It combines fast speed with a knife control system that securely holds the trees whilst being processed providing maximum productivity.

The 335MD40 is designed for thinning and has a special top delimbing knife.The combination of five efficient, movable delimbing knives, one fixed knife, extremely good feeding power (19,5 kN) and speed up to 5 m/s makes this a fast and efficient head, which easily handles rough branches. Max delimbing/felling diameters are 400mm and 500 mm respectively.

The 450 model is a relatively light weight, all-round head with a high 29 kN feeding power and a strong chassis making it ideal for both fast work in thinning, clear felling, work on steep slopes and excavator mounting. It delivers quality delimbing up to a maximum of 550 mm along with a 64 or 75 cm saw bar.

Designed for clearfelling, the 560 is a heavy duty head with a high feeding power of 37 kN, an excellent start up torque and a feeding speed of 0-5 m/s along with a 75 to 90 cm saw bar.The knives and feed roller pressures are fully proportional according to the trunk diameter and the pressures can be adjusted directly from the cab.

Although the 560 is designed for use with the Silvatec Sleipner harvester, it is also a popular add-on to excavators from 17 to 25 tonnes, due to its exceptional strength and robustness.

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“So far I have visited Silvatec harvesters & heads working in Donegal,Mayo,Sligo,Galway, Laois,Cork,Kerry,and have more to see”

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FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

TREE SHEARS V CHAIN SAW TREE CARE IRELAND www.treecareireland.com

ith so many sites using 360 excavators to rehandle timber once felled by chainsaw, it seems like a natural progression to get the excavator to do the whole job with a robust ree Care Ireland training services are used throughout the Land Tree Shear attachment.The numerous advantages over chain saw felling use industries, Local Authorities, ESB networks and service sectors. include the reduced noise, one man being able to do the work of at Our training and accreditation (City & Guilds NPTC) is Coillte least 6 men and of course the much safer control of the tree. The ability approved for working in State and privately owned forests. to place the felled trees where you really want them speeds up the As your business develops, we are here to assist you with Training job especially where you have to clear an uneven or immature tree crop or indeed where there are services, roads and waterways nearby.

Solutions. As your trees and landscape grow we can provide you Dymax Tree Shears lead the way with their well proven and robust with advice and management. Either way we specialise in peace of mind design, offering models to suit all excavators from 5t to 25t and for with an emphasis on professionalism, sustainability and good value. medium to large skidsteers as well.

We have had the pleasure of building relationships and sharing Practicality Brown Ltd are the European Agent for Dymax and have skills with many large organisations and domestic clients over the a sales and service agent based in Ireland. last twelve years from our base in Ireland.The knowledge we gain For further information please check out the following from these experiences allows us to provide you with access to website: www.treeshears.co.uk the safest and most up to date techniques.

Our Training Team are delighted to be able to extend a broad range ontracting service, measuring land and within the forest using of Training courses, Awards and Qualifications to you, including GPS. Maps can be overlaid on Google earth or printed as normal. specialist subject areas such as chainsaw training, tree-climbing Available for sale is the Farmnavigator, which records GPS positions and LOLER Inspection training. We can also help by customising in forestry, soil sample positions. Records of business journeys can courses to your personal needs or creating flexible timetables and be kept using Logger.These units will also assist parallel spraying or night courses. Our contracting services utilise out unique strengths; planting without the use of foam markers or sighting poles.The unparalleled qualifications, experience and professionalism in all Farmnavigator comes with satellite navigation for Ireland, UK and Europe.

The Ecocut Saw Horse provides a safe method of cutting small diameter aspects of tree care.We provide our customers with a comprehensive timber lengths directly into a trailer or tractor front loader bucket using range of tree services, free quotes and advice. your own chainsaw. Most of the weight of the Chainsaw is carried by Should you require Tree inspections, Safety auditing or Legal the Ecocut; the operator’s standing area is clear of timber and no more advice we are also at hand to help with a dedicated nationwide bending down to pick up cut timber. team offering simple, cost effective solutions.

For more information contact: Jack Bayly, Debsborough House, For further information contact: Tree Care Ireland Ballinaclough, Nenagh Co. Tipperary, Loc8 code: Q5N-15Tel: 059 9148678. Fax: 059 9148629 KF8, Landline: 067 34764, Mobile: 087 2687764 or www.treecareireland.com Email: debsboro@incite.ie

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FARMNAVIGATOR (IRELAND)

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FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

www.bagsupplies.com AG Supplies Ltd is a family run business supplying a large range of packaging materials throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. With over 15 years of experience in the industry coupled with our helpful and knowledgeable staff we are sure that whatever your enquiry we will be able to offer you helpful advice and service.We aim to offer all our customers - large or small - quality products at competitive prices coupled with our personal service and attention to detail.

We specialise in the supply of all types of Net Bags,Ventilated Bulk Bags, Log Nets, Cubic Nets, Kindling Nets, Polypropylene Sacks and Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers.We work primarily, but not exclusively so, with the Firewood and Shellfish industries and can offer both plain and personalised, printed products should you wish.

As well the supply of packaging materials BAG Supplies Ltd can now also offer for sale various items of kit for the firewood industry such as a fully adjustable Bag Loading Tray,a Cubic Log Net Frame and a Bulk Bag Loading Frame all of which are exclusively designed and manufactured for BAG Supplies Ltd. Please visit our website at www.bagsupplies.com to discover more about our products and services. If you need more information or wish to make an enquiry then please get in touch with us and we will gladly advise you.

BAG Supplies Ltd, Unit J, East Lakes Business Park, Cowper Road, Gillwilly Industrial Estate, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9BN website: www.bagsupplies.com email: info@bagsupplies.com Tel: 07798 723040 Fax: 01768 892779

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THE GRAINGER GROUP TIMBER PROCESSING FACILITY

stablished in 1977, the Grainger Group timber processing facility is located on a 20 acre site in Enniskeane, Co Cork.

The company is one of Ireland’s largest and most technologically developed sawmills and has an annual production capacity of 132,000 m3 and employs 92 people directly and a further 148 people indirectly.

The Group manufactures softwood products for the construction, fencing and packaging industries in both home and export markets. It has also developed long term export markets for forest residues and sawmill co-products. Grainger’s have invested in new technology to increase operating efficiencies and develop markets for higher added value wood products. In line with the strategy of maximizing the value of sawn products investment in added value facilities for Kiln Drying, Machining and Timber Treatment has taken place.

Grainger’s have Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation for all its products.

In 2005 the Group constructed Ireland’s first large scale commercial Biomass CHP plant which was designed around the Sawmill’s heat requirements.The plant uses wood co-products such as sawdust, bark and woodchips, together with forest thinnings, to generate electricity and heat for timber drying.As a result all the hot water necessary for kiln drying timber is now produced on site, while the plant’s output of renewable electricity is sold to the National Grid.

The CHP plant is designed to ensure a highly efficient combustion process with flue gas emissions below the most stringent limits.

For further information:Tel: +353 (023)8822500.

Fax: +353 (023)8847698 Web: www.graingersawmills.com

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

THE FUTURE VALUE OF IRISH FORESTRY

By Christy Nolan (Future Training).

he Irish government are contemplating the sale of the state owned forestry.We have several agencies interested in buying forestry in Europe.I am convinced that they will be very interested in buying into Irish forestry. It dawned on me recently, there had to be a reason for this.

The toll bridges reminded me of it, it’s the future carbon value of the timber, that they are interested in, not the timber itself.They will buy the timber and sell the carbon value back to the government, who will have no choice but to buy,to fulfil their greenhouse obligations, at huge cost to the already overburdened tax payer.

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THIS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN ● Carbon is going to be very valuable in the future and these people

are aware of this. ● This is a legacy that must not be levied on the shoulders of our

children and future generations.

I call on Minister Coveney to ensure that the state hold control of the national asset, some changes are needed in the running of the state asset, no doubt. ● We need a rigorous expansion programme for forestry, to expand the land base. (10% Ireland 34% European average. ● The last thing we need is the state advertising for high flying people to dispose of land for development and other schemes, short term value and major future loss. ● If forestry was expanded we may be able to sell carbon to other

countries, so you could say, we could export the value of the tree and still retain the value of the timber. ● We have a 3 to 1 ratio advantage on most of our European colleagues. ● We are generating extra carbon because, even, when we use the trees for construction, no doubt we can record this, carbon is still retained in the sawn timber. I am sure this can be added it to the calculation to comply with our greenhouse obligations.

So, whatever,or to whoever,we sell,we retain the carbon value rights.

FORESTRY TRAINING The industry needs to get young people into the forestry industry.

The only way this can be achieved is, by training programmes.We need long term funding (3 +years) to sustain a structure to implement and deliver these training programmes.The Department of Agriculture do a good job in funding courses but to sustain a high standard of skills and training we need a commitment on long term funding. I hope we make progress on both forestry issues above.

Thank You, Christy Nolan Future Training Galtymore, Burncourt, Cahir, Co. Tipperary Email: ifca@eircom.net www.futuretrainingltd.net Tel: + 353 86 2416574

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NEWS

ENJOY THE HEAT LONG AFTER THE FIRE HAS GONE OUT he benefits of woodburning stoves are clearly evident to all those who have the opportunity to relax before one and enjoy the comfort and heat which they offer. In terms of energy efficiency, cleanliness and running costs they are far ahead of the traditional open fireplace, whilst still producing long-lasting comfortable heat. It is estimated that up to 85 % of the energy produced by an open fire is lost up the chimney whereas with a wood burning heat accumulating- or mass stove this figure is reduced to 10-15%.And this percentage of heat loss is necessary to keep the chimney draft going.This is clearly reflected in the experience of any mass stove owner when they compare the amount of fuel they use as compared to an open fire or conventional wood burning stove.

This is in turn beneficial not only to the environment but to one’s pocket. Both of which are pressing concerns at this time.

One local West Cork company “ The Stokehole” based in Tooreen, Dunmanway, is pioneering a revolutionary type of wood burning masonry stoves (or Finovens as they are also known) some of which they manufacture here in West Cork.These take the advantages of the traditional stove and propel them further again above the traditional fireplace through the use of what is known as ‘heat retaining properties”.

This system, whilst new to these shores, has been tried, test and proven for generations on the continent.

The Finoven made out of soapstone or loam and fireclay has its origin in Northern Europe and the Alps. Both climates in which heat productivity and efficiency is of utmost concern. Firewood is burnt in a short time cleanly and efficiently and the smoke and heat produced passes over a large soapstone or fireclay mass.This stone mass continues to radiate the heat evenly and steadily over a period of time.The strength of

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these stoves lies in the fact that radiation of heat continues long after the fire has gone out thereby further reducing the amount of wood, which has to be consumed and in turn the costs of heating your home. It is the heat retaining and emitting properties of the stoves which the Stokehole offers, which sets them apart from other heating products in the marketplace.The radiant heat produced by these stoves is of a special quality and has to be experienced.The warmth is gentle, even and thorough like the sun shining on ones body.These qualities can,depending on where the Finoven is placed also be enjoyed by the surrounding parts of the house and not just the room in which they are placed.

The people behind The Stokehole, Emma Dragt and Alfred Buis have over 20 years experience in this area and began their careers in Holland.

The attraction of the products on offer can clearly be evidenced by the volume of business, which they attract from all over the country as well as much interest from the United Kingdom.They also intend this year to take the opportunity to display the range on offer at a variety of agricultural shows and similar events throughout the country and explain the principle behind the systems on offer in person to the public.

The Finovens and fireplaces can vary dramatically in size and can be custom made to suit their intended environment.A look at their website www.thestokehole.com clearly shows the variety of the products on offer and explains in depth the advantages of the heat retaining system.

Rather than solely functional items in one’s home many of the goods on offer are clearly attractive focal pieces, which dramatically enhance their surroundings.

The Stokehole specialises in wood burning mass stoves and accessories, such as a safe to use manual firewood splitter and a full range of felling and splitting axes.There are almost 20 business offering firewood for sale in the West Cork area, much of which is also grown locally. Using firewood as a source of heat thereby also helps locals businesses and ensures the sustainability of local woodlands.The use of firewood also offers many environmental advantages over other carbon-based fuels.

When wood is burned the carbon dioxide emitted is no more than if that tree were left to rot naturally. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for other carbon based fuels and everyone is well versed at this stage on the harmful environmental impact of carbon emissions.The ashes produced from the burning of firewood can also be put to good use as a biological fertilizer for your garden.The business’s website also contains much engaging reading material.There is an entire section which explains why the human body is much more suited to the radiant heat produced by a fire than the heat produced by central heating systems and is most thought provoking and enlightening.

The Stokehole can be contacted at 023 8855454 / 086 8072022 or take a look at their website www.thestokehole.com

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NEWS

FERMOY WOODLAND NURSERIES www.fermoywoodland.ie

ermoy Woodland Nurseries is a successful plant nursery business started by Michael and Margaret Egerton over 25 years ago.They produce forestry transplants from seed.The sandy soils on the banks of the Blackwater in Fermoy have proved excellent for fibrous root growth resulting in superior transplants. Initially Sitka Spruce and Noble Fir were the main species but this was quickly followed with the production of a wide range of broadleaf transplants for the forestry sector.

Commercial forestry transplants are their main line of production. Fermoy Woodland Nurseries also supply farmers and landowners with their requirements for the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and the more recent Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS).This amounts to an annual production of over 200,000 Whitethorn together with a range of mixed species hedging.

Noble and Nordman Fir transplants are produced from seed on the Nursery for supply to Christmas Tree Growers. Landscapers are also catered for. Fermoy Woodland Nurseries produce a range of bare-root and root-ball hedging including 150,000 Beech, different Laurels and trees in a variety of sizes.

Michael says “the changes around us are both feared and welcomed.With low levels of construction, landscape activity is slow. On the other hand, cold winters have led to the destruction of many long standing hedges which will require replacement. Fashions and economics change, but with Ireland’s excellent growing climate we can compete successfully on both price and quality with Dutch and other foreign producers.We can certainly displace imports and go on to export a good product.There is every good reason to be positive about the future” For further information contact: Fermoy Woodland Nurseries Limited Tel: 025 31233 Mobile: 086 8364883 Fax: 025 31354 Duntaheen, Fermoy, Co. Cork. Viewing welcome by appointment.

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NEWS

DEVON COMBINED FINN VALLEY TRADING LTD evon Combined Trading ltd have designed built and certified this new single phase electric kindling machine, this machine is targeted at those people who are trying to get started in the kindling business or those who already are in the business and wish to expand without breaking the bank,with finance out of reach for most people this machine should be quite attractive with a price tag of around €2250+vat,the machine is fully CE marked for safety and compliance and is ideally suited to pallet boards or other types of waste timber, which would other wise be taken to landfill but can now turn a tidy profit,this machine with 2 operators can turn out about between 50 and 70 bags a hour depending on timber quality and bag size,the bagging shute which is supplied is built to suit the standard kindling bag which is 50cm long and 40cm wide but shutes can be designed to suit which ever bag the operator wants to suit his customers.The machine can be operated by a single person but is better suited to 2 people and the finished kindling length is approx 6.5 inches. This machine has been built to a very hight standard and will require little maintenance except lubing over its lifetime.

Any questions contact Noel at Tel: 087-2405774

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NURSERIES www.gallinagh-nursery.com

inn Valley Nurseries is a long-established agricultural business in central Co. Donegal, supplying everything from saplings to mature trees. Our range includes Conifers, Broad-leaved trees and Ornamental Shrubs. We can cater for forestry contracts or for the provision of single trees, and a full delivery and planting service is available. We also provide consultancy services and are approved by Department of Agriculture and authorised by the Forest Service to process Grant Applications. We also supply trees for:

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Forestry Schemes R.E.P.S Shelterbelts Landscaping

We are a long-established agricultural business in central Co. Donegal. The Gallinagh family name is associated with many years of Agricultural service and expertise. Our wide range of services and products makes us the ideal one-stop place for all your planting and landscaping requirements.

See our website for further information: www.gallinagh-nursery.com

TOTTENHAM TIMBER

ottenham Timber, established in 2003 by Robin Tottenham carry out a wide variety of Forestry consultancy, wood energy projects & timber residue supplies. Robin, has had many years of practical forestry experience from a very early age as well as qualifying from the University of Central Lancashire with a qualification in Forestry & Woodland management in 1999. He has in-depth forestry experience and has worked in this sector in various countries around the world, including the UK, Scandinavia and South America as well as all over Ireland.

Tottenham Timber are primarily involved in timber harvesting & marketing as well as all aspects of Forestry consultancy, Estate management and Biomass supply.

In 2008,Tottenham Timber expanded their range of services into the supply of sawdust bedding for the equine, canine, cattle and poultry sectors. Tottenham Timber also supply woodchip for cattle pads, horse gallops as well as the wood fuel sector.

Robin is a member of The Society of Irish Foresters, Pro Silva Ireland and recognised on the Approved Forester list with the Forest Service.

Feel free to contact Tottenham Timber for any of your Forestry,Wood Energy or Animal Bedding queries.

For further information, contact us on 086 8362522 or visit www.tottenhamtimber.ie or www.sawdust.ie

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FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

P.J. CALLAN LTD

quality axes and forestry tools at the forge known as Himmelberger Zeughammerwerk.The traditions and skills working with high grade steel for more than 300 years guarantee tools of unrivalled quality.

Each axe is a masterpiece purely hand forged from a single piece of steel by skilled craftsmen. Mueller’s absolute finest axes are sold under the brand name “Biber Classic”. Forged, hardened and tempered by only the most experienced blacksmiths, these axes incorporate the following special features:A perfectly forged and tempered axe head left in its natural condition free from paint; a razor sharp edge (with a slight convex bevel to avoid early blunting) honed over a watercooled sharpening stone; premium grade hickory handles, lightly waxed, and safety wedged to the axe head; each axe includes a leather guard and a rubber guard for edge protection.

A premium Splitting Wedge, also produced by Mueller, is hand forged in Austria from top quality steel and then expertly hardened and tempered for the best combination and hardness and toughness.

The edge is razor sharp and ready for immediate use.The Splitting Wedge is twisted for maximum effect.All of these Mueller products are available in PJ Callans.

J. Callan Ltd,Ardee, has a long history in supplying all types of For more information on any of P.J. Callans forestry forestry and firewood equipment.They have been supplying products call them on 041 6853555 or visit their website Palax Firewood Processors from Finland for the past 10 years. on www.pjcallanltd.com The Palax range has now widened and there is a comprehensive range to suit every need.Also available are the Binderberger and Balfor logsplitters and saws, from the domestic to the more advanced professional woodchippers. P.J. Callans have been selling TP Lindana woodchippers for the past 16 years and continue to offer the full range of these top quality Danish manufactured woodchippers.

P.J. Callans have recently taken on a new range of professional axes and wedges from the Austrian manufacturers Mueller. Since 1675, in a small Austrian village close to the Alps, the skilled blacksmiths of family owned Leonhard Mueller & Sons have been hand forging premium

www.pjcallanltd.com

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FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

IRELAND’S FIRST NATIONWIDE OAK THINNING EVENT eagasc, COFORD and the Forest Service organised this forestry event to showcase the Tending and Thinning of young Oak woodlands. It took place recently on October 26th at Cappamurragh Farm House, Dundrum, Co Tipperary and provided a valuable insight into the management of young Oak woodlands to produce quality stems and optimise the value of the future crop.

Michael Somers, Forestry Development Officer with Teagasc explains what the event was all about:“The event demonstrated to participants the optimum time to commence tending and first thinning of Oak. Other important topics that were discussed included felling licences, harvesting grants, road access, firewood and charcoal production and non-timber products such as fungi.”

“Participants were shown the process of marking the trees for tending with identification of potential final crop trees and subsequent marking of stems to be removed including competitors, and diseased stems,” explains Dr Ian Short, Broadleaf Forestry Research Officer with Teagasc.“The demonstration also included a visit to a plot that has recently been tended.”

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Tending and thinning broadleaves are essential operations to ensure the production of valuable hardwood timber optimising returns from broadleaf forests. It was a great opportunity for Oak growers to see and experience best practice for tending and thinning of Oak crops.

TIMBER SALES MADE EASY Some of the participants at the recent “Steps to Thinning and Marketing your Timber” event held recently in Co Clare; organised by local Forestry Adviser Áine O’Callaghan.

lthough selling small sized timber from first thinning is a new venture for many forest owners, the process is straightforward and a little advice can go a long way. To help forest owners make the right decisions about thinning,Teagasc and the Forest Service held an event on 11 October near Feakle, in Co Clare to showcase ‘Steps to Thinning and Marketing your Timber’.

Denis Purcell from Feakle is one of the few forest owners in county Clare who has gone through the process twice already.

He has just completed his second thinning. Back in 1988, Dun Purcell (Denis’ father) planted 18 hectares of land with Sitka spruce.

His decision has proven to be very successful.

Denis remembers carrying out the first thinning:“Initially I was more comfortable getting a forestry consultant to help organise the first thinning. I really saw a huge improvement in the plantation after thinning - it really started to look like a forest. Since then, I have taken a more active role and I decided to manage the second thinning myself. Over the past few years I attended Teagasc training days and I got as much information as possible to make sure I was making the right decision. I am very happy with the result.”

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Áine O’Callaghan, Forestry Development Officer with Teagasc has some very good advice:“Forest owners need to gather as much information as possible about thinning. Even if you have not completed a first thinning yet, it is still beneficial to see what is down the road in terms of the products your forest will produce in a first or second thinning. As a forest owner it is important to be able to assess your trees and know what products will be harvested from your forest.”

Denis Purcell commented:“If I was to give other forest owners one word of advice, I would tell them to get at least a basic knowledge about thinning. A lot of forest owners fear they are going to be exploited. Once you understand things, the confidence grows.

The next time a leaflet comes in about a course, don’t put it into the back of the press, go and see what you need to know.

There are plenty of resources available to us if we use them. I made a few thousand euro from the first thinning and I was very happy with the help I received from the forester. I was lucky to sell the second thinning when prices were very strong – that’s where the real money is but you have to do the first thinning first.”

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FORESTRY & ENERGY REVIEW

NEWS

NATIVE TREE PLANTING DEMO eagasc's Forestry Development Department in conjunction with the Forest Service, Seed Savers and Celt organised this demonstration to give “potential tree owners” the opportunity to find out more about planting and managing native trees, hedgerows and orchards.

Live demonstrations showcased best practice on species selection, planting and early management. Participants also had the opportunity to learn more about apple orchards. Professionals including Teagasc’s researchers discussed queries about trees, orchards and tree seed improvement research.

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Oliver Sheridan and Dr Elaine O'Connor, Teagasc Forestry Research discussing the Irish Birch Improvement Programme at the Native Tree Planting Demo held recently near Scariff, Co Clare

FOREST MANAGEMENT TIPS

Timber Stack Measurement

orest owners who have carried out a first thinning will appreciate how important it is to know how much timber is leaving the forest.

A very handy method is to measure timber stacks at roadside.

This is a straightforward method that can be done quickly by the forest owner.

It is a very quick, cheap and simple way ensuring that you know how much timber is leaving your forest. It is particularly suited to small diameter wood from first thinnings and is the preferred method to quantify firewood being sold.

A simple step by step guide is available from the Teagasc Forestry website: www.teagasc.ie/forestry.

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FELLING LICENCES Thinning is now taking place in many farm forests, planted during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Before any felling takes place, it is necessary to have a felling licence in place.

Two types of felling licences exist, a Limited Felling Licence and a General Felling Licence. Contact your local Forestry Development Officer to assist you or visit the Teagasc Forestry website: www.teagasc.ie/forestry/technical_info/felling_licences.asp) where the difference between the two licences is explained.

Blank forms as well as a filled out example can be viewed.

Contact your local forestry development officer for more detailed management tips or download technical information leaflets from www.teagasc.ie/forestry.

FOCUS ON FORESTRY – CLARE 2011 ocus on Forestry – Clare 2011 was a series of forestry events held in County Clare between 2 and 19 October promoting and focusing on the many benefits of forests both commercially and environmentally.

A wide range of organisations including Teagasc, the Forest Service, IFA, Coillte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service came together providing an action packed forestry fortnight for the people of Clare.These events were also a great opportunity for forest owners from other counties to come and meet the many forest owners in Co Clare.

Visit www.teagasc.ie/forestry for the complete schedule of events.

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Q & A – MURRAY TIMBER GROUP

MURRAY TIMBER GROUP Established in 1977 by its Managing Director, Mr. Paddy Murray, Murray Timber Group (MTG) has grown to become one of the largest, most progressive and flexible sawmills in Ireland.

Sawmill

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Q & A – MURRAY TIMBER GROUP he Company continues to invest in state of the art sawmilling equipment to satisfy customer requirements.

The Group supplies products to the Construction, Garden & Fencing and Packaging markets in both Ireland and the U.K. The Group currently processes in excess of 500,000M3 of Round Logs annually and employs 150 people directly with many more employed indirectly.

Operating from two central locations, Ballygar, Co. Galway and Ballon, Co. Carlow, the Company has two world class processing facilities capable of processing in excess of 1,000,000M3 of Logs annually.

Our plants are ideally located to meet domestic and export demand.

All our construction timber is Kiln Dried and Graded in accordance with NSAI and European standards to ensure adherence to specified moisture content regulations, using state of the art drying techniques, then regularised on the planing line and graded to ensure that our timber is of the highest quality.

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● MTG have the flexibility and capability to offer a wide range of

services to growers wishing to sell their timber and will always offer a fair commercial price to growers. ● MTG purchases it’s timber standing or roadside depending on the growers requirements and preferences. ● MTG processes logs from 8ft long to 24ft long and a diameter of 14cm upwards.

Please contact our forestry team on 090 6624688 or forestry@mtg.ie who will deal with your enquiry in a prompt professional manner.

Q: CURRENT STATE OF THE IRISH TIMBER INDUSTRY A: The Irish Timber Industry is currently in a very weakened position,

some would say it is as weak now as it ever has been despite the huge sums invested by the Industry over the last 10 to 15 years.

The major problem facing the Industry at present is the significant log supply / processing capacity imbalance that currently exists.

This over capacity in in the industry is primarily as a result of ● 1977 Murray Timber Products Ltd established by Paddy Murray incorrect forecasts supplied by Coillte in the late 90’s. Based on in Ballygar, Co. Galway these Coillte forecasts, the Industry invested heavily to be able to ● 1994 Commissioned high production processing facility in Ballygar process the volumes of logs supposedly due to be available over ● 1997 Acquired Sawmill in Ballon, Co. Carlow the following 20 years.These forecasts have proved to be incorrect, ● 2000 Commissioned high production facility in Ballon, Co. Carlow leaving the industry fighting for a scarce resource which has led ● 2005 Fire destroyed production plant in Ballygar to hugely inflated log prices, which makes it very difficult for the

“Operating from two central locations, Ballygar, Co. Galway and Ballon, Co. Carlow, the Company has two world class processing facilities capable of processing in excess of 1,000,000M3 of Logs annually” ● 2007 Commissioned state of the art Sawmill in Ballygar to replace

Irish Sawmilling Industry to compete in an international commodity market where competitor Sawmills enjoy log costs that are between 30% and 40% cheaper than Irish logs.

The shortfall in logs available from Coillte is a major worry for the Industry. Although volumes available from private growers is increasing, and in the long term will replace the Coillte shortfall - it is not enough to ease the short term imbalance caused by the Coillte shortfalls. Significant amounts of timber from private growers Q: STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY THAT should become available circa 2016/2017 but in the meantime DEALS WITH GROWERS / SUPPLIERS how will the industry survive and remain competitive in an A: MTG have a specialised forestry division, who are responsible international market. for sourcing the round logs for processing in both our mills.

Importing logs from abroad is not really an option to the industry While we have imported logs from the U.K., we source the as the locations from which logs can be imported is severely majority of our logs from three main sources – Coillte,The Forest restricted due to Ireland’s disease free status, as there is a wood Service Northern Ireland and Private Growers, who are providing beetle that exists in other countries that contravenes our disease ever increasing volumes of round logs to our mills. free border regulations.

This uncertainty in relation to log supply makes it very difficult Imported Logs to plan the long term future. destroyed facility ● 2008 Commissioned high speed planer mill in Ballygar ● 2008 Launched Eased Edge product as our standard carcassing material ● 2009 Entry in to U.K. carcassing market ● 2009 First Sawmill to introduce X Ray grading technology in Ireland

Ballygar site

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Q & A – MURRAY TIMBER GROUP Forestry

Q: TIMBER SECURITY FROM IRISH FORESTS A: Security within the timber supply chain is a significant issue for the timber industry.Timber security comes in two forms.The first being the physical security of the timber, that is to stop timber being stolen from our forests. Procedures must be put in place to prevent theft from our forests and where theft occurs prosecutions must take place because at the moment there is no real deterrent.The second is to ensure that the recovery of millable wood from our forests is being maximised. Situations have arisen where millable timber is being wasted due to poor harvesting procedures and timber which should be going to the sawmills for processing is actually going in to pulp.

Q: HOW CAN GROWERS OPTIMISE THEIR FINANCIAL RETURN FROM MILLS A: Through our ever increasing contact with private growers we have noticed that a major issue is poor thinning practices. Early thinning is a means of weeding out poorer quality trees to let the good ones thrive, but what we have seen is that crops have been destroyed because instead of weeding the weaker trees, it is in fact the strong ones that are being taken out and significant ground damage is also being caused by the machines used in these thinning works and this is leading to poorer end return for the grower. These poor practices are detrimental to the long term prospects of the growers and the sawmills. In our opinion, unless

“It is vitally important important for the Industry and its future that we are competitive in the U.K. market as it is our primary export market.Although a small amount of timber is exported to the continent, the U.K. market is our primary market outside Ireland” While correcting the loss of millable timber due to poor security is best practices are applied during thinning operations a no thin policy leads to a better return for both the grower and the sawmills. not a complete solution to the shortfalls being experienced by the industry, it would certainly help to alleviate some of the stress Q: WHERE DO YOU SEE MURRAY’S IN 2020 caused by the log shortage in the industry.Also, increased security A: We would see ourselves still being to the forefront of Irish would not lead to increased costs as the manpower required is Sawmilling thanks to our ethos of continually investing in our already there, it’s just a matter of focus. business and equipment to ensure that we are able to compete Q: QUALITY WISE, HOW DOES IRISH TIMBER on the international stage and meet the significant challenges that we will face over the coming years.

RATE IN THE U.K. MARKET

A: From our point of view MTG timber through our SNR Brand is very well accepted in the U.K. market. We started exporting to the U.K. in earnest in June 2009 and by the year’s end we were exporting 42% of our sales volume.This has since increased to the point where we now export some 60% of our sales volume.

We could export more but are restricted by the inflated log prices we currently suffer.

It is vitally important important for the Industry and its future that we are competitive in the U.K. market as it is our primary export market. Although a small amount of timber is exported to the continent, the U.K. market is our primary market outside Ireland.

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SNR Load bound for UK

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LAND AND FOREST FIRES

LAND AND FOREST FIRES

The pictures of fire raging out of control on agricultural land, bog and forests became a depressingly familiar sight during the Spring of 2010 and 2011.

Reconstitution grants for fire damaged forests are no longer t was fortunate that no lives were lost as a result of these available and the considerable cost of replanting therefore has to devastating fires but a significant amount of damage was be borne by the owner or, if there is an insurance policy in effect, caused to the national forest estate and many farmers and by his or her insurers. forest owners incurred considerable losses as a result of these fires, which destroyed both a valuable timber resource, as well as THE STATE’S RESPONSE valuable wildlife habitat.

As a result of the devastating outbreaks of fire in early 2010 and During the Spring of 2011 large areas of forestry were lost to the consequent damage to forestry, the Forest Service of the fire in Ireland. It is very difficult to calculate the economic cost Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a of this damage but all of the published estimates run into the Land and Forest Fires Working Group, with representatives from millions of euro. To compound matters, there is the additional a broad spectrum of interested stakeholders, to examine the problem. damage to non-forestry land, to fencing, hedgerows and other The participants included representatives from the Forest Industry, property and it is impossible to place a value on the wildlife and Farmer organisations, the Fire Service, the Gardai, the Defence wildlife habitat lost through these events.

Forces, Coillte Teoranta, Teagasc and the National Parks and What is clear however, is that these events represent a significant Wildlife Service.The Working Group was charged with making cost to the State and to the individuals whose property was damaged recommendations for Ministerial approval, with a view to tackling or destroyed. the problem of illegal and uncontrolled burning. Following a full The impact on individual forest owners, many of whom are analysis of the issues involved the Group made a series of ten themselves farming, can be immense. Beneficiaries of afforestation recommendations: grants and premiums are obliged to maintain and protect their 1. Change the mindset regarding the use of fire in traditional forest for a period of up to 20 years from the date the grant was agricultural practices through an extensive and continuous publicity paid.This means that there is an obligation on the beneficiary to and educational campaign. replant where the forest is damaged by fire. Failure to adequately protect and maintain a grant aided forest can result in cessation 2. Advise landowners on Fire Prevention and Forest Management: of premium payments and may, ultimately, result in recoupment Forest owners should be provided with appropriate information of all grant and premium monies received. Premium payments on forest management practices that could prevent extensive must be suspended until reconstitution works have been completed, damage to forests and improve safety conditions for Fire Service depending on the extent of the damage. personnel.

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LAND AND FOREST FIRES 3. Early Detection: Early and swift detection of illegal burning activity will result in a reduction of wildfire in the Irish countryside during periods of high fire risk.

ACTIONS TO DATE

The Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine began a campaign in early 2011 to try to address the issues raised in the Working Group’s recommendations. Several of 4. Penalise and/or prosecute offenders: Landowners who engage the recommendations related to creating awareness of the dangers in illegal burning activities will be penalised under the Direct Payment of uncontrolled burning, the potential consequences to life and Schemes and where necessary prosecuted by the appropriate property and providing information to landowners and forest authorities. owners regarding their obligations and their rights.This campaign 5. Create an Interagency Statement in relation to land and forest has been run by the Department with the support of Teagasc, the fires which will provide clarification to stakeholders regarding each Garda Siochana and the ICSA and has publicised the legal obligations agency’s role and responsibilities in the context of land based fires. on land owners in relation to burning and tried to highlight the dangers of uncontrolled burning.

6. Advise landowners of their obligation to notify their intention In particular, the message has been that the burning of growing to burn to Fire Services and the Garda Siochana. vegetation on uncultivated land between March 1st and August 7. Promote Producer Group involvement and increased interaction 31st is strictly prohibited by law.

2011 has also seen a greater focus by the relevant authorities on between forest owners, surrounding landowners and the various

There is much that farmers, land owners and the public can do to avoid a repeat of the devastating fires we have seen in recent years. Prompt reporting of uncontrolled land fires and of forest fires is essential.The Fire Services should be notified immediately and any suspicious activity reported to the Gardai emergency services to ensure better vigilance and response to potential forest fires.

identifying people suspected of engaging in uncontrolled land burning and a renewed emphasis on achieving prosecutions in the courts. A number of prosecutions have been obtained in 8. Collate data for land and forest fires: A map of land based fire respect of offences committed in 2010 and several more are ‘hot spots’ around the country should be compiled in order to help pending or before the courts.These actions are reinforced specifically target the advertising and educational campaigns at through strengthened Cross-Reporting arrangements with the these areas.

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that may result 9. Produce a Code for Controlled Burning: A Code of Practice has in penalties being imposed on direct payments such as the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Payment. been prepared by the Forest Service of the Department and is In addition, a considerable amount of research has gone into the due for publication shortly. production by the Department of a Code of Practice for Prescribed 10. Research into the spatial and temporal occurrences of land Burning (Recommendation no.9).The term prescribed burning or based fires could provide valuable data which could assist in controlled burning is used to describe the planned and deliberate preventing further outbreaks of illegal land based fires. use of fire as a land management tool – for example, the practice

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LAND AND FOREST FIRES of burning off old vegetation to promote new grass growth and to improve upland grazing.

This Code of Practice has been developed with reference to burning codes adopted elsewhere, but is mainly the product of extensive consultation that has taken place during the course of 2011 with landowners, farmers, farming groups and other interested parties and stakeholders. It will set out comprehensive guidelines on controlled burning, from the preparations and precautions that individuals intending to burn need to take, advice on how to prepare a burning plan, who must be notified, as well as the legal and other constraints that apply.

The Code is currently being finalised and is expected to be available on the Department’s website in December 2011. A short version of the Code is also being prepared for direct distribution to land owners and farmers in those areas that appear to be most at risk from fires or where burning has traditionally taken place.

Some of the issues arising from the recommendations of the Working Group are outside the control of the Department of course. Where this is the case, these issues have been notified to the appropriate Government Departments or Authorities for examination and action.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? There is much that farmers, land owners and the public can do to avoid a repeat of the devastating fires we have seen in recent years. Prompt reporting of uncontrolled land fires and of forest fires is essential.The Fire Services should be notified immediately and any suspicious activity reported to the Gardai.

The Forest Service strongly recommends that forest owners should consider the financial consequences of fire damage. It is the responsibility of each forest owner to ensure that adequate insurance, including for reconstitution costs, is in place. Forest owners should also ensure that firebreaks are well maintained and checked at least once a year. It is also advisable to have a Fire Plan and to review it regularly. It should list key contact numbers and family members should be aware of it and where to find it.

Talk to your neighbours, if people are aware of the dangers and of your concerns, they may be less likely to be careless with fire

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in the vicinity of the forest.Apart from the legal ban on the burning of growing vegetation on uncultivated land between March 1st and August31st each year, landowners who set fires to burn vegetation are obliged to give you (and the Gardaí) written notice if they intend to burn within a mile of your forest. You are entitled to object by counter notice within three days.

It is to be hoped that through the ongoing publicity and awareness campaign, the publication of the Prescribed Burning Code of Practice, the continuing efforts of the Government Departments and Authorities involved and the vigilance and co-operation of farmers, land owners, forest owners, the forest industry and the general public, that the widespread and costly damage seen in 2010 and 2011 will not be repeated in the Spring of 2012.

For further information regarding land and forest fires log on to www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/landandforestfires

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TEAGASC FORESTRY

TENDING AND THINNING OF BROADLEAVES A simple guide to selecting quality trees.

Author: Dr Ian Short, Broadleaf Silviculture researcher,Teagasc Forestry Development Department.

Ash in the process of being tended. Red rings = Potential Crop Trees; Orange dots = trees to be felled

his article describes a simple procedure that can be used to ensure that the correct trees are selected in broadleaf woodland before tending / thinning is carried out, and follows best practice based on the latest Teagasc Forestry research.

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Tending and thinning should concentrate on favouring those selected trees that can potentially provide a final sawlog crop, known as Potential Crop Trees (PCTs).This article describes a simple procedure that can be used to ensure that the correct number of well-distributed PCTs is selected prior to any felling.

About 30,000 hectares of broadleaves have been planted during the last two decades. Increasingly more of these plantations are now ready for tending or thinning.Tending and thinning are important management operations which help ensure the continued good health and growth of a woodland and release selected trees from competition.

POTENTIAL CROP TREES CAN BE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR CRITERIA:

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1.

2.

3.

4.

Disease free Relatively good stem form Relatively good vigour Distribution

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TEAGASC FORESTRY Disease free – All PCTs should be free from disease.

Stem form – PCTs are the best trees selected from what is available. In some cases this may be 5 m of straight stem, in other cases only 4 m due to forking and very large branches. It is important to look at the tree from at least two different angles to see if it is straight.

Good vigour – The growth rate of a PCT should be relatively good when compared to those stems around it. A balance needs to be found between good stem form and good growth rate: the straightest tree in a plantation won’t be a PCT if it is also one of the slowest growing. Equally, the fastest growing tree won’t be a PCT if it has poor stem form.

Distribution – Don’t have all your PCTs in one area of the plantation.The distribution of PCTs should be spread evenly throughout the plantation and not concentrated in the “good quality” areas.This may mean that their relative quality may differ with, for example, 5 m of straight stem in the “good quality” areas but only 4 m in the “poorer quality” areas.

The number of PCTs to be marked per hectare varies with species, initial planting density, and whether at tending or 1st thinning stage. For example, see Table below.

Species and planting density per hectare

3,300 Ash / Sycamore / Norway Maple / Alder 2,500 Ash / Sycamore / Norway Maple /Alder

Operation

Recommended number of PCTs required

Number to select between the 2 sticks

Number selected per hectare

Tending 1st Thinning

350 300

4–5 3–4

330 – 413 248 – 330

Tending

350

5–6

313 – 375

1st Thinning

300

4–5

250 – 313

THE 2-STICK METHOD The 2-stick method is an easy technique that will result in you identifying the correct number of PCTs per hectare with an even distribution throughout the plantation. As an example we shall consider ash at tending stage which was planted at 3,300 stems per hectare.

You begin by placing a stick between two rows of the ash.

Then you count 20 original planting positions within one row from the stick and place a second stick, resulting in a total of 40 planting positions (i.e. 20 tree positions on either side of you) between the two sticks. A planting position that is missing a tree should still be counted.

Next you walk back towards your first stick and, using the criteria above for selecting Potential Crop Trees, identify and mark 4 – 5 PCTs within the 40 planting positions between the two sticks, resulting in approximately 350 PCTs per hectare.

Each PCT should be permanently marked with a ring of red paint.

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The final stage in the method is to walk back towards your second stick and mark two competitors per PCT.These should be trees that are competing in the canopy with the PCTs. In addition, wolves and diseased trees can also be marked at this time.

By starting the procedure again each time with the second stick that you used previously as your starting point, you can continue marking the remainder of the trees in your woodland.

A similar 2-stick method can be used for any species.The number of PCTs to be marked are given in the “Silvicultural Guidelines for the Tending and Thinning of Broadleaves”, available for download from the Teagasc Forestry website (www.teagasc.ie/forestry).

2-stick method procedures are also available for pure oak, pure beech, and the oak/conifer and beech/conifer mixtures.

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FORESTRY TRAINING & EDUCATION IRELAND

TRAINING AND EDUCATION NEEDS IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR Forestry Training & Education Ireland (FTEI) is currently charged with the administration and management of the nationally approved forestry skills training programme, and has administered a comprehensive training programme over the past four years, based on the defined needs of the industry.

activity has increased, there has been a marked decline in government s well as this ongoing role in delivering Forest Service funded forestry training activity in recent years.This has been funded training programmes, FTEI has a wide remit relating to forestry training and education matters, including the largely due to the cessation of EU funding for forestry sector training activities in Ireland and more recently due to the considerable longer term, strategic planning of forestry education & training provision to meet the changing needs of the Irish forest industry. national budgetary constraints. FTEI administered forestry sector FTEI has commissioned this forestry training and education needs skills training is currently at a low ebb with regard to government analysis (TENA) in order to identify current training priorities within funding and resulting levels of skills training delivery.The demand the industry and to assist in the development of a plan for the for funded training courses currently exceeds supply and reduced sustainable delivery of education and training resources into the funding could threaten the delivery of a sufficient volume of training initiatives. future. Predicting future developments and associated training The TENA has identified under-capacity within the vocational needs will help to form a more strategic approach to the provision and funding of training and, in the context of funding limitations, education & training sector and a notable absence of a VET course informed prioritisation of training provision can be implemented. tailored towards the mechanised timber harvesting sector, primarily The TENA included a review of the current structure and state due to a lack of funding and resources. There is no structured vocational career development path for operatives currently of forestry education and training operating in Ireland today, showing that the Irish forestry sector is well served by a range of employed within the forestry sector and no progressive accreditation strong and adaptable education and training resources. However, system that recognises a range of completed skills courses and with the exception of the farm forestry sector where Teagasc training work experience. Also, there is currently no centrally compiled national database of forestry sector skills certification and skills training activity.This makes the on-going analysis of training needs and the strategic planning for the provision of skills training initiatives difficult. Some observers feel that there is currently an over emphasis on training, assessment and certification activities to address specific environmental, forest certification and occupational health & safety requirements, with a “tick the box” approach.The focus is on asking “has the operator got his cert” rather than “is the operator fully trained to carry out the job efficiently and safely”.

The development of a more structured career path for forestry operatives with a centrally administered register of skills training and work experience may help to refocus training motives.

A review of some of the forestry education and skills training systems in Europe was also carried out in the TENA, in order to identify potential models that may be suitable for implementation

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FORESTRY TRAINING & EDUCATION IRELAND in Ireland. While Ireland’s forestry education and skills training structure is currently based on largely similar models to those operating across Europe, there are some initiatives that should be considered in the context of planning for future structural arrangements.

Most notably, the dual system of vocational training or the apprenticeship model, incorporating a structured programme of training provided both in the workplace and in a vocational school should be considered for use in Ireland.There is a notable presence of such systems in many European countries and a notable absence in Ireland. It differs from the current forestry vocational training model operating in Ireland in that it requires an employment and training contract between an employer and a trainee. In particular, this model could be developed to create a more structured system of training new operatives for work within the timber harvesting sector. supply forecasts, there is an increasing need for highly trained One of the most notable trends to potentially affect future education & specialist timber harvesting contractors that are expert in sensitive training needs is the movement of the management cycle of a harvesting operations and minimising environmental impact. significant area of the private sector forest resource from the In addition to increased capacity in mechanised timber harvesting, establishment phase to the timber production phase, bringing an increase in motor manual timber harvesting capacity will be with it a significant increase in potential timber harvesting activity, required, specific to broadleaf thinning operations and thinning the majority of which will be focused in first and second thinnings. of small conifer plantations considered too small for harvesting While Coillte’s potential annual harvest volume is forecast to remain with conventional mechanised systems.There will be an increasing relatively stable over the next 10 years, the current age class structure need for training initiatives that will increase the capacity of specialist of the Coillte forest estate will result in a 25% decrease in potential chainsaw thinning operators with high levels of silvicultural clear fell volumes and an 80% increase in potential thinning volumes skills. Initiatives should include both chainsaw skills training and over this period.This will result in a significant increase in thinning silvicultural training and should be focused on individuals and

A review of some of the forestry education and skills training systems in Europe was also carried out in the TENA, in order to identify potential models that may be suitable for implementation in Ireland. operations within Coillte’s timber harvesting activities. As with the private sector, Coillte are facing an increase in mechanised timber harvesting capacity requirements specific to thinning machine operators, requiring additional training initiatives aimed at upskilling harvester and forwarder operators for work in thinning operations.

With increasing environmental restrictions being placed on timber harvesting sites, Ireland’s annual timber harvest includes more and more sites considered to be very environmentally sensitive. It is estimated that about 15% or 400,000 m3 of Coillte’s annual harvest forecast is on such sites. In order to ensure the continuation of harvesting operations within more environmentally sensitive catchments and thus ensure the realisation of future timber

companies who intend to be actively engaged in motor manual thinning operations in broadleaf and conifer farm forestry crops.

New education & training needs are also forecast within the timber processing sector specific to the wood energy sub-sector, based on strong forecast demand for wood energy products over the next ten years.

The TENA outlines possible modifications to the systems of education and skills training currently operating in Ireland, with the objective of developing a more strategic approach to the funding and delivery of education and skills training initiatives.

Most notably, proposals have been made relating to the development of an adapted FTEI funding strategy supported by a multi-annual funding allocation and budget, based on a longer term strategic plan for training delivery. It is proposed that FTEI training budgets are divided into short term and longer term allocations. Short term allocations would cater for the ongoing background demand across all sectors for immediate skills training, refresher training and certification while more strategic, longer term allocations would provide for training initiatives to address forecast gaps in workforce capacity and associated education & skills training needs along with some structural developments such as the development of a new nationally accredited forestry skills learning syllabus, the development of a national forestry skills register and the development of a new apprenticeship / traineeship programme for forestry operatives.

FTEI is in the process, in cooperation with all stakeholders, of developing an implementation plan for the outcomes and recommendations of the TENA. We envisage that the implementation will be co-funded by the industry, the Forest Service and other government agencies involved in training and education.

For further information: www.ftei.ie

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UCD FORESTRY

UCD FORESTRY UCD Forestry is the only university forestry programme in Ireland and has a long and prestigious heritage dating back to 1927.

ost of the forestry professionals and scientists working • Help students develop an overall view of forests with regard in Ireland have studied forestry at undergraduate or post- to their ecological, economic, socio-cultural, environmental and graduate level in UCD. In earlier years, the focus of forestry utilisation functions. in Ireland was on species selection and forest establishment, nowadays • Provide students with the scientific basis for the balanced management of the forest resource that is consistent with the principle of the emphasis has moved towards the sustainable development and sustainability. management of Ireland’s forest resources, with the aim to produce the optimal mix of goods and services for the forest owners and • Help students develop the ability to think analytically and provide them with the knowledge necessary for professional decisionsociety as a whole.

The UCD Forestry programme consists of four pillars: education, making in forestry and related disciplines. research, innovation and extension. UCD Forestry staff are active • Equip students with skills in the areas of computer applications, information technology,communications and professional development. in all of these, at both a national and international level.

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1. EDUCATION The FETAC Level 8 undergraduate programme (BAgrSc [Forestry] Honours) forms the main educational basis for the forestry profession in Ireland. Exchange programmes with Michigan State University, Purdue and the University of California Berkeley in the USA and the University of Freiburg in Germany give the programme an international relevance.

Forestry students in UCD have access to the full range of subject areas available, from science and engineering to arts and commerce, allowing students to select courses from a very wide range, and providing them with access to the extensive expertise present at the largest university in Ireland.

The objectives of this degree are to: • Equip students with the education and skills to enable them to provide leadership within the forestry sector.

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Students learn how to create and manage forests in sustainable and environmentally friendly ways.They discover how the components of a forest – the trees, soils, water, climate, flora and fauna – interact with each other and are affected by human requirements. Newer areas of interest, such as renewable energy resources, multifunctional forestry, carbon sequestration, continuous cover forestry, biodiversity and bio-complexity, sustainable forest management, social and urban forestry, climate change, and the conservation of genetic resources are also part of the programme.

Stage 1 includes the full range of core science subjects as well as an introductory forestry course. In Stage 2, students develop the necessary applied sciences and forestry skills through courses in silviculture (growing trees) and forest biometrics.

They gain a greater understanding of forest ecosystems in Stage 3. In addition, forest establishment, protection and management form the basis of the forest utilisation component of the programme.

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UCD FORESTRY

Current research aims to: • Understand dormancy mechanisms and develop pretreatments to break dormancy of forest seeds and maximise germination in the nursery.

• Examine the impacts of cultural practices on the morphological and physiological quality of important tree species.

2. RESEARCH • Determine the effect of the amount and method of nitrogen UCD is a research-intensive university and the UCD Forestry fertilisation on nutrient uptake, soil leaching dynamics and seedling programme is no exception. Staff are actively engaged in research quality in pedunculate oak. work, at a national and international level, which supports the large • Evaluate the impact of forest thinning practices on the physiological number of Research Masters and PhD students and Post-Doc responses of underplanted tree species. researchers in UCD Forestry. UCD Forestry Research covers a wide • Determine the key factors affecting the establishment and range of areas, from forest nursery practices to the non-market growth of tree species in mixtures. benefits of forestry.The research can be divided into basic research, • Develop dynamic yield models for conifers, broadleaves and focussing on a better understanding of the biological, physiological mixtures of tree species. and ecological processes that underpin the growth and development • Develop single tree volume models and stem profile models. of trees and forests, and applied research where this understanding • Develop an inventory protocol and decision support system for is combined with sociological, economic, mathematical, and computer the management of privately-owned forests.

Familiarisation with a wide range of computer techniques forms another important aspect of the programme. The concluding Stage places considerable emphasis on individual and group projects and these form the major components of the marks towards the degree, rather than a final examination.

UCD is a research-intensive university and the UCD Forestry programme is no exception.

Staff are actively engaged in research work,at a national and international level,which supports the large number of Research Masters and PhD students and Post-Doc researchers science knowledge to develop new procedures and methodologies • Evaluate the use of terrestrial laser scanning for multi-resource to improve the contributions of forests to society. Many of UCD forest inventories.

Forestry’s current research projects focus on developing solutions to • Assess the use of remote sensing techniques for forest delineation, problems associated with changes in the economic, environmental and inventory and change detection. social context in which forestry operates. Examples of such • Establish a national resource of field trials and a database for changes are the introduction of Sustainable Forest Management forest research and demonstration.

(SFM) as the national standard, the move from state to private • Assess and model the carbon sequestration potential of forest afforestation, the increased emphasis on broadleaf forestry and ecosystems, including above and below ground components and on the use of alternative silvicultural systems, the changing demands wood decomposition.

Irish society places on forest products and services, the changing • Develop a GIS-based multi-objective decision support system attitudes of urban and rural people towards forestry, and climate for the optimal management of forests on sensitive sites change and the role of forests in terms of mitigation combined • Evaluate the susceptibility of forest tree species to climate with a need for adaptation. Furthermore, the expansion and change impacts, especially drought. ownership diversification of the forest estate also requires more • Develop a geospatial model for the forecasting of private sector sophisticated inventory, planning and management systems. timber supply.

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UCD FORESTRY • Evaluate the impact of agro-forestry systems on farmers’ livelihoods, biodiversity and carbon pools.

• Explore the factors influencing a farmer’s decision to afforest land and identify strategies to increase the level of farm afforestation.

• Estimate the value of the ecosystem services associated with different “types” of afforestation programmes.

• Expand the knowledge base on low impact silvicultural systems (LISS, CCF) in Ireland.

• Develop an integrated management system for European forest landscapes, to deliver a better balance between multiple (and often conflicting) demands for forest ecosystem services.

3. INNOVATION Many of the outcomes of the research carried out at UCD Forestry result in innovative products and services, especially in relation to ICT and decision support systems. Examples are the dynamic growth models for Irish forests, decision support systems for the management of privately owned forests, wind throw prediction models, a web-based national harvest forecasting system, and single tree taper and volume models. A number of these models are used on a regular basis, by professional foresters, enabling them to improve their decision making, resulting in the better management and use of the forest resources.

4. EXTENSION/OUTREACH Traditionally extension has been a very important component of the work of the staff. Given the unique position of UCD Forestry in Ireland, it is essential that staff are involved in the translation of their expertise and research findings for use by forestry practitioners, politicians and the general public.The staff play an important role by informing and educating decision makers, forest owners and managers, as well as the general public, based on scientific research findings. These days the vehicle of extension ranges from the web, to speaking about research findings at industry meetings, to writing about the research in accessible publications sponsored by COFORD (COFORD Connects) and trade magazines.

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It is envisaged that, given the continued expansion of forestry in Ireland and given society’s increasing demands for an expanding range of goods and services, the UCD Forestry programme will further grow, both in terms of staff members and students, but also in terms of the importance of the innovation and extension roles.

For more information: Professor Maarten Nieuwenhuis Forestry, School of Agriculture & Food Science, UCD Dublin 4, Email:maarten.nieuwenhuis@ucd.ie. Tel: 01-7167004

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

OAKLEAF FORESTRY

akleaf Forestry is a Firewood and Forestry Equipment distribution company based in Co Armagh, supplying some of Europe’s finest farm and forestry machinery. They have been supplying the timber industry for a number of years and are fast becoming one of Ireland's leading suppliers.

With the ever increasing price of oil, colder winters and more people installing wood burning stoves, the demand for firewood is growing year on year. In keeping with this, the machinery to produce firewood has progressed over the years, with firewood producers benefitting from increased productivity and reduced labour. Oakleaf Forestry has a range of machines to cater for the domestic and professional user.

Palax Firewood Processors are manufactured in Finland and are available through Oakleaf Forestry.Features which are common to all Palax machines include self-cleaning conveyors, precise length adjustment and radial discharge conveyors which can speed up the bagging of firewood dramatically.

There are eight basic models to choose from, starting with the Palax Combi M II.This model is very efficient at cutting and splitting logs up to 25cm, and can even cut bunches of stems at the same time, using a TCT circular saw blade.Two/four way splitting knife is standard, along with the 4.3 metre discharge conveyor.

The KS35 and KS35S use a 15”chainsaw to crosscut. The maximum diameter they can cut is 35cm, producing logs from 25 to 60cm long.To ease its operation the chainsaw and the in feed conveyor are controlled completely hydraulically using a joystick.The height position of the splitting wedge is also controlled hydraulically.The speed of the splitting ram is determined by the automatic high speed valve which is supplied as a standard feature.

The 70 and 70S firewood processors are equipped with TCT circular steel blades, capable of handling logs up to 25cm in diameter.Although both models have similar features in their basic frame construction, the 70S model is hydraulically controlled and well suited for continuous firewood production.

The Palax Power 90S(G) and Power 100S are the bigger machines in the range, capable of processing larger trees. Its tungsten- tipped cross-

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cutting blade is capable of cutting logs up to 40cm in diameter, with a splitter force of either 10 or 16 tonnes.This model has been designed with long service intervals in mind.There are a host of extras available, from various splitting blade patterns to hydraulic oil coolers and heaters.

The newest machine in the Palax line up is the KS50S, a fully hydraulic machine capable of high production.With a cutting diameter of 50cm using a 22” harvester chainsaw bar and a splitting force ranging from 424 tonnes,this machine operates at approximately 15 work cycles per minute. Palax also offer a complete range of ancillary equipment from log decks, to cleaners and bagging systems.

Oakleaf Forestry supplies the Rabaud range of splitters from France.

These come in a variety of power options from Electric, Petrol engine, Tractor Hydraulic and PTO powered splitter and a range of splitting force from 4t to 40t, both vertical and horizontal. Splitting clearance under the wedge ranges from 0.53m on the smaller models to 2.35m on the larger F40.All machines are fitted with Rabaud’s patented heavyduty wear-resistant wedge mounting.The Eco and Farmer models range from 13 to 22 tonnes splitting force. The two speeds for lowering the cylinder increases productivity while preserving splitting power, and

they are ideal for farmers, estates and firewood producers. For serious firewood production the choice goes up to 40 tonnes of splitting force, and machines can be supplied in either a horizontal model, which has a hydraulically operated log lifting system, or vertical models which have a log clamping system.These can be fitted with a top-mounted electric or hydraulic winch with an eye-bolt or tong-style log attachment to assist feeding.

Rabaud Saw benches are fantastic value for domestic and light professional use.These saw benches can be single or 3phase electric or tractor PTO powered and is often a low cost entry level purchase for people starting out in the firewood business.

Rabaud also manufacture a ranch of log bundling machines,post drivers, wood chippers and much more,all finished to an exceptionally high standard.

More details on the equipment outlined above and other machinery available from Oakleaf Forestry, including video demonstrations and brochures can be downloaded from www.oakleafforestry.com

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EUCALYPTUS FEATURE

EUCALYPTUS – SHORT ROTATION FORESTRY TO MEET IRISH ENERGY NEEDS

In our continued series on Eucalyptus, D-Plant Horticulture offers some practical advice.

Eucalyptus Parvula 18 months from transplant 2.2m Survived -16.5 degrees

ith two of the coldest winters on record under our belts we are moving forward with varieties of eucalyptus showing huge potential for growth and surviving temperatures down to -16°. This is very encouraging given the growing demand for wood energy.The appetite for eucalyptus as a wood energy crop is still growing with more and more plantations gone in this season and several sizeable plantations planned for next spring.

Hotels, leisure centres, factories etc. are turning to biomass for their energy requirements. One of the major concerns here is fuel supply for future needs of biomass users. Eucalyptus offers a versatile fuel option that can be programmed for the end users needs.

Eucalyptus is suitable for several end uses such as firewood logs, wood chip and wood pellets.A plantation could be ready to harvest in as little as eight years but is not restricted to that harvest date.

The eucalyptus crop will happily grow away year on year until its fuel is required.After harvest if a coppicing variety has been planted there will be re-growth to replace the crop saving on replanting.

One of the main attractions of growing eucalyptus is its simplicity – it can be (like traditional forestry) planted with a spade and harvested with a chainsaw. It is not necessary to have automated contract machinery to do all the work but traditional forestry machinery is available and suitable if the economics and scale permit. Harvest flexibility is also a plus with eucalyptus suitable for harvest any time of year. Eucalyptus is a crop equally suitable for the smallest home grown firewood plot up to the largest commercial forestry plantation.

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CULTURAL INFORMATION Soil type: • Eucalyptus requires soil with reasonable fertility.

• It will grow well on heavy soils but will not tolerate wet soils.

• Soil pH 5.5 – 7

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SOIL PREPARATION • Lightly tilled soil along the planting row will give good root establishment to newly planted trees.

• Ripping can be used if desired where you have reasonable soil condition, e.g. if planting into cereal stubble.

• Mounding is another useful method on wetter sites to allow good root establishment owing to the extra drainage from the elevated planting position.

PLANTING PROCESS • Planting time: April-June.

• Plant density at 2M x 2M spacing is 2500 plants per hectare.

Eucalyptus young plants

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EUCALYPTUS FEATURE • Planting is mostly done by hand using a regular spade.

• Eucalyptus plants are modular grown which makes them very easy to plant compared to other bare root forestry trees.

• A mechanical planter (something like a cabbage planter) can be used but this usually means a great deal of soil preparation.

• Ultimately our trials have shown that reasonably well prepared soil makes for easy planting and good root establishment.

machinery is expensive to hire the practicality of using it comes down to the economics.

• Eucalyptus is a clean straight stemmed tree with few lower branches and not much lop and top.

ACTION AFTER FIRST HARVEST

• The ability of Eucalyptus to coppice (with the exception of E. nitens) gives the opportunity to obtain a second and third crop MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS without the need to re-plant.

• Weed control in the first two years is essential.

• Once the first crop has been harvested the stumps will coppice • Eucalyptus doesn’t compete well with weeds as small plants in producing multiple stems which must be thinned. the early stages of growth can be severely stunted.

• Depending on your end market you can leave from one to • Chemical weed control with Glysophate (Roundup) works well three stems per stump. but it is important that the chemical doesn’t come in contact • Some weed control may be necessary but because the coppice with the Eucalyptus foliage or stems.This can be achieved by the will have the support of a large root system and establish quickly use of Tree Guards. this weed control will be unlikely.

• Pre-emergence chemical weed control will be trialed shortly and is expected to give good results.

• An application of 50g of a balanced tree fertilizer per tree (not VARIETIES AVAILABLE to close to the stem) has shown to improve establishment and • E. nitens – vigorous but does not copice reliably (-12c to -13c) increase vigour.

• E. denticulata – will coppice (-11c to -12.5c) • At 2M x 2M spacing if plants are kept weed free for the first • E glaucescens – will coppice (-15to -17) two years the canopy will usually have closed and no further • E urnigera – will coppice (-15c to -17c) action will be required.

• E. brookeriana – will coppice (-11c to -12c) Suitable for • There is no pruning or training requirement for Eucalyptus. wetter sites.

• The trees grow as straight single stem plants with little or no • E. johnstonii – will coppice (-12c to -14c) lower branches.

• E. subcrenulata – Will coppice (-14c to – 17c) • Generally Eucalyptus is unpalatable to mammals such as hares, • E. coccifera – will coppice (-14c to -16c) deer and rabbits so fencing is usually unnecessary.

• E. camphora – will coppice (-12c to -13c) Suitable for wetter sites.

HARVESTING • E.parvula – will coppice (-14c to -16c) • Harvesting can be done the traditional method using chainsaws.

• E. rodwayi (Swamp Gun) – will coppice (-13c to -15c) Suitable • The use of mechanical harvesting machines is optional and is for wetter sites. usually determined by the availability of the machine, the location • E. cordata – will coppice. Usefull for costal shelter. (-10c to -12c) of the plantation, the size of the plantation etc. Because this Ability to coppice after felling

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EUCALYPTUS FEATURE

EUCALYPTUS MARKETS Traditionally firewood has come from bi-products of conventional forestry, fallen or unwanted trees and trimmings from hedgerows.

With the lack of commercial wood fuel forestry in Ireland, there is a real opening for Eucalyptus to be grown as a wood fuel both on large scale plantations and small domestic self-sufficiency plantations. In Spain and Portugal small plantation of Eucalyptus to supply wood fuel to the owners own home is common place.

This concept could easily be adopted in Ireland.

Large industrial and commercial ventures have invested in biomass burners and combined heat and power units (CHP) in recent years.

The need to secure supplies of fuel into the future is a must for these ventures. Contract growing of local supply of fuel is the only long term answer to this need.

Eucalyptus grown by contract within a 40-50 mile radius of the end user would make economical sense. Transport over a long distance with any bulky biomass fuel will burn up the value of the fuel on the road rather than in the burner.

Eucalyptus locally grown, dried, chipped and delivered will help sustain local business and employment.

Eucalyptus Glaucescens 30 months from transplant 4.6m Survived -16.5 degrees

What makes Eucalyptus a versatile crop for anyone considering SRF is: • It can be planted with a spade and harvested with a chainsaw.

No need for specialised equipment although it is available if the scale justifies it use.

• The wood is suitable for wood chip, wood pellet, firewood logs or fibre board.

• The crop time scale is not critical if you don’t want to harvest it on a particular year, its yield will have increased the following year and will be no more difficult to harvest.

• Eucalyptus is suitable for both large scale and small scale planting.

• The timber air dries quickly, cracking and splitting as it dries.

This opens up the timber an speeds up the drying time.

Projections to 2020 would indicate that to meet government targets a biomass supply of approximately four million green tonnes per annum would be required. At present it is unlikely that the forestry sector – given its current and predictable future capacity – would be able to supply more than half of the required volume.

Eucalyptus has the ability to produce large volumes of biomass in a short space of time. This would give us the opportunity to In the 1970’s and 1980’s large amounts of our native trees in the reach these targets. We are just nine years away from 2020 – long woodlands and hedgerows around the country side were cut down enough to take the first harvest from a crop of Eucalyptus planted in for wood fuel as a result of increased oil prices.Today we are seeing 2012.

Large industrial and commercial ventures have invested in biomass burners and combined heat and power units (CHP) in recent years.The need to secure supplies of fuel into the future is a must for these ventures the same clearance of trees around the countryside. Firewood suppliers are finding it difficult to secure timber supplies.The demand for firewood is increasing annually and yet there is no planting of purpose grown firewood.

A crop of Eucalyptus could return firewood within 8-12 years with the possibility of thinning within 4-6 years in some crops.

Fossil fuel prices are on an upward trend and would seem set to continue that way. Future supply of oil is in question and government targets to reduce carbon emissions all point the way to wood fuel.

Eucalyptus ticks all the boxes.

D-Plant Horticulture in Wexford are specialist propagators of Eucalyptus.They have put a lot in to their research and development of Eucalyptus as a biomass crop. The plant production takes approximately 10 months. If Eucalyptus for SRF is a crop you would be interested in growing you should place your order for plants a year in advance. This ensures that you will have your plants on time and will give you time to have your site suitably prepared for planting. Limited amounts of plants for 2012 will be available on spec please contact us for details.

For More information contact: Brendan Doyle. D-Plant Horticulture Borelia, Glenbrien, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, SUMMARY Tel: 053 9236516 Mobile 087 2861221 In a nutshell we have one of the best biomass growing climates Email: dplant@eircom.net, www.dplant.ie in Europe and plenty of land suitable for growing it. We have an expanding market for wood fuel, biomass and wood fibre. The peat burning power stations must offset peat burning by 30% by the year 2015.This alone amounts to one million tonnes of biomass per year.

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FARM FORESTRY

FARM FORESTRY

UCD Department of Forestry provides an overview of Farm Forestry in Ireland.

nlike many other European countries there has never protection of the environment”.The achievement of the afforestation been a tradition of farm forestry in Ireland.This is partly targets were expected to produce a critical mass of timber, i.e. 10 a legacy of the lack of reliance of Irish farmers on wood million m3 per annum, which was considered the volume necessary as a fuel (the Irish tended to use turf) as well as the land tenure to make true competition and the operation of market forces possible system, which meant that landlords typically planted trees rather and support a range of processing industries.

The planting targets as laid out in the 1996 Strategy have never than the tenant farmers. been reached. Indeed planting rates have dropped significantly When forest cover in Ireland reached an all-time low in the early 1890’s, with only 1% of the land of Ireland under forest, an afforestation since the scheme was introduced with only 48% of the targeted area of farmland planted with trees.This has raised concerns programme was launched. However it was left to the State to address this shortfall and it wasn’t until the introduction of EU- about the achievement of critical mass. In order to understand farmers’ attitudes to forestry a number of studies have been funding for private planting in the 1980’s that farm forestry “took off”.The rationale for providing support for farm forestry was to conducted which have shown that forestry is economically as offer farmers an option to diversify their income and hence encourage them to stay in farming.This funding initially only covered the cost of establishing a forest but by the early 1990’s farmers could avail of an annual premium payment (payable for up to 20 years), which was to provide them with an income from the time of planting until the revenues from the first timber sales were due.

The availability of the generous supports provided the catalyst for farm forestry. Planting by farmers expanded and reached a peak in 1995, when they planted almost 18,000 hectares.

In 1996 a national forestry strategy was published outlining the Irish Government’s plans for the forestry sector for the proceeding 34 years. In the plan, reflecting the optimism about private forestry in Ireland, ambitious planting targets were set.These included the planting of 25,000 hectares annually between 1997 and 2000, and 20,000 hectares per annum thereafter until 2030.The aim of this strategy was “to develop forestry to a scale and in a manner which maximises its contribution to national economic and social wellbeing on a sustainable basis and which is compatible with the

U

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FARM FORESTRY rewarding as agriculture for those operating cattle and sheep enterprises.This would suggest that many more farmers should have transferred land from farming into forestry. However, the underlying assumption of this suggestion is that farmers’ decisions are guided only by the goal of making the maximum possible profit from their farms.The drop in afforestation rates along with results from studies from other countries about the decisionmaking of farmers suggest that this assumption might be false, at least for a sizeable group of farmers. Farm afforestation schemes were also introduced in other European countries (e.g. Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the UK).They all followed a similar route as the Irish scheme: after an initial success, planting rates dropped. Furthermore the afforested land in these countries was predominantly marginal, agriculturally unproductive land. Studies was chosen to give farmers the opportunity to come up with their very own reasoning behind their decisions concerning the into the decision-making of the farmers in Finland and the UK revealed a general negative attitude towards forestry on potential farm.Thus it was also possible to explore their general views on farmland. In a study undertaken in Ireland in 1994 the majority of farming, their values and long-term goals. farmers said they would only plant land that ‘is good for nothing else’. A preliminary analysis of the information collected during these interviews shows that a large group of farmers are not looking To understand the factors that influence whether farmers opt for the maximum profit to be made from the farm. Instead they to afforest land, a study (funded by COFORD, Department of are satisfied with returns that are sufficient ‘to keep the farm going’.

Agriculture, Food and the Marine) was initiated in 2009 by the Some farmers even regard their farm as a hobby rather than a business and Forestry and Rural Development Sections of UCD to explore in are not interested in profit at all. Profit-maximisation seems to be more detail the non-monetary factors influencing a farmer’s individual decision to plant. For this purpose in-depth interviews the target only for a small proportion of farmers. But even for this

In 1996 a national forestry strategy was published outlining the Irish Government’s plans for the forestry sector for the proceeding 34 years. In the plan, reflecting the optimism about private forestry in Ireland, ambitious planting targets were set were held with 63 farmers from Sligo, Roscommon and Westmeath on their farms.These counties were chosen because their forest cover is comparatively low, the soils are favourable for growing trees and the returns from the prevailing farming systems in these counties – cattle and sheep farming – generally do not cover the production costs. Hence it was assumed that afforesting parts of these farms would generate more income than traditional agricultural enterprises.The interviews were conducted on the farms including where possible the spouse or potential successors of the farm manager.There was no questionnaire or any pre-formulated questions involved. This very open, more discussion-style interview type

group the profit becomes less important when it comes to afforesting their farmed land. Other values like a priority for producing food overrule or as one farmer put it a ‘farmer wants to farm – what would I do, if I planted trees?’

Further analysis of these interviews should help to improve the current afforestation scheme in that it will inform the design of a support scheme that takes into account farmers’ values and goals.

Such a scheme, respecting the individual preferences of farmers is likely to encourage afforestation more successfully than the current one, which operates on a one-size-fits-all-basis.

(Authors: Stefanie Duesberg,Aine Ni Dhubhain and Deirdre O’Connor, UCD) Photos: Stefanie Duesberg

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

FOREST SALES

A new website: www.forestsales.ie has recently been launched by Mr. Paul Lafferty of James Cleary & Sons,Auctioneers in Castlerea.

n the last number of years, Paul Lafferty has built up a reputation for Forest Sales and the sale of forest plantations throughout Ireland.

Paul is uniquely qualified to spear-head the launch of the website as Paul qualified as a Forester from UCD in 1989 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science {Forestry} and also qualified to degree level, in Property Sales having qualified with 1st class honours, bachelor of Science Honours Property Degree received from Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street Dublin received in 2006.

Prior to entering the property market, Paul Lafferty worked as Regional Area Manager for the Green Belt Forestry Company before moving into Property and Auctioneering in the year 2000.

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Since moving into the Auctioneering Business, Paul Lafferty continued to market Forests throughout the country and currently has well over 100 properties on the books. Recently the new website www.forestsales .ie was launched, to co-ordinate and further broaden the base of Selling Forest properties throughout Ireland.

The Website allows both buyers and sellers to get up-to-date information on forests that are currently for sale and potential buyers can get all relevant information on forests such as species maps, age of plantations, measurements if available and location and subsequently view the plantations and ultimately make an offer for the plantation all over the Internet.

Speaking to Forestry and Energy Review, Paul lafferty, said that there is currently large demand for high quality forests and in particular, forest plantations over 20 years of age coming up to first thinning or having recently been thinned for the first time. Or alternatively older post thinning plantations are in high demand from Pension Funds, Forestry Investment Funds, individual investors, and farmers.These plantations are near financial maturity and ensure strong returns versus other forms of investment.

Forest and forestry have continued to thrive despite the recent County Area Species Year Planted recession and has not been as affected as other forms of investment Co. Roscommon 33 acres SS and NS 1997 such as property or shares. Long-term returns from forestry are Co. Sligo 80 acres SS 1991 consistently in the region of 5% and forestry, over the last number of years, outstripped all other investments and is not prone to fiscal Co. Meath 84 acres SS and JL and BL 1999 highs and lows currently being experienced in property and share Co. Kildare 55acres NS, ASH, Alder 1996 and equity investments.There is also a growing demand for bare Co. Carlow 49 acres SS, HL Alder 2004 lands for forestations.

Co. Clare 94 acres SS and ASH 1997 The website launched: www.forestsales.ie also caters for land Co. Cork 18 acres SS+HL 2004 available for Planting.

Paul indicates that there is huge demand nationwide for land suitable for afforestation. Land owners with land suitable for forestry that wish to sell by placing the property for Sale with James Cleary & Sons, can avail of a full nationwide coverage of demand from all Paul Lafferty Tel: 086 2599189 forestry companies and can be assured of the best prices available in Email: forestsales.ie@gmail.com the entire country as with forestry investment, it is not location based Tel: 094 9620540 as would be farm land. Foresters and forest owners can have land in Tel: 094 9620011 multiple different areas and can have quite successful investments.

If you are interested in purchasing or selling a forest or if James Cleary and Sons you are interested in purchasing lands for forestry or selling Main Street,Castlerea, land for forestry, getting your property on www.forestsales.ie is County Roscommon a must to ensure the maximum return for your sale.

James Cleary and Sons

Sample of forests for sale on www.forestsales.ie

For further details please log on to www.forestsales.ie

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