Monitoring and Managing CCF in Ireland. Áine Ní Dhubháin and Lucie Vítková. A presentation from the CCFG National Conference 2014

Transcription

1 Monitoring and Managing CCF in Ireland Áine Ní Dhubháin and Lucie Vítková A presentation from the CCFG National Conference 214 Continuous Cover Forestry: Delivering sustainable and resilient woodlands in Britain CCFG National Conference Lake District, England 3-5 June 214

2 Monitoring and Managing CCF in Ireland Áine Ní Dhubháin and Lucie Vítková Forestry Section, University College Dublin

3 Historical context 1% forest cover at beginning of 2 th century State afforestation programme launched Forestry confined to the poor soils/peatland Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine Thinning followed by clearfell; restocking by planting

4 Background to CCF 1998: Public concern re negative visual impact of clearfelling 1998: First research plots transforming 4 year old Sitka spruce stand 2: Pro-Silva Ireland founded 21: Coillte awarded FSC certification 25: All broadleaved high forests in Coillte estate to be managed under CCF

5 Current research LISS project Objectives: Construct a database of stands in Ireland where CCF is being implemented Trial to investigate thinning to initiate transformation Foresters attitudes to CCF Expand AFI network Economics of CCF versus clearfell

6 Current extent of CCF Forest owners/managers surveyed: Coillte Teo The Society of Irish Foresters The Irish Timber Growers Association ProSilva Ireland Ground survey of 1%

7 Extent of CCF Properties (#) Forest area (ha) Public 235 8,292 Private 36 2,311 Public & Private 271 1,63

8 % properties Area of CCF properties All forests Public Private Area class

9 % properties Duration of management All forests Public Private 1-5 yrs 6-1 yrs yrs 16-2 yrs yrs 26-3 yrs 31 + yrs Not mentioned

10 % number of sites Species in CCF stands All forests Public Private Mixed species Pure conifer Pure broadleaf Species class

11 Ground survey % % good medium N/A Site stability yes no N/A Natural regeneration presence % % % good some no N/A Infrastructure presence yes no N/A Potential seed bearers yes no N/A Browsing % % % yes no N/A Competing vegetation presence Stem quality yes no N/A Need for deer management Number of observations % of sites %

12 What does it tell us? Few stands managed under CCF Some stands being transformed to CCF Confirms it is recent endeavour More aspiration than a reality Sixty percent of surveyed properties suitable for transformation

13 Foresters attitudes to CCF On-line survey of foresters in: Coillte Teo Teagasc Forest Service Association of Irish Forestry Consultants Other forest management companies in Ireland 22% response rate

14 CCF users (32% respondents) Reasons for CCF use: Economic benefit (19%) Broadleaved species management (19%) Management for amenity and recreation (13%) Certification (6%) Non-responses (25%) Extent of CCF use: Area managed under CCF <1% CCF applied for <1 years

15 CCF non-users (24% respondents) Why not?... not convinced of CCF, especially with regards to economics CCF is not a part of conventional systems in Ireland at present the forest blocks are too small and the species of trees growing are not suitable to CCF forest owners desire to generate revenue through clearfell private forest owners want a fast return but CCF has a stigma of long term...

16 Constraints to CCF Can they be overcome? -Education YES! -Training -Research -Increasing awareness Constraint Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Forester's knowledge Wind/stability Market conditions Owners perspective Soil type Mammal densities Other Regulations and laws

17 Drivers of CCF all respondents Driver Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Certification Economics Scenic and landscape values Public opposition to clearfell Need for increased biodiversity Recreation Other

18 Attitudes to CCF Disagree Don t Agree Economics of CCF vs. clearcutting (%) know (%) (%) Clearcutting makes more money that CCF in Ireland Using CCF is more beneficial in terms of tax in Ireland CCF provides a more constant and regular income than clearcut in the long term Disagree (%) Don t know (%) Agree (%) I have the expertise to practice CCF with confidence Practicing CCF would require more of my time than the clearcutting would Experience and training

19 Thinning experiment Need for information on thinning to initiate transformation to CCF in young forest plantations Graduated density thinning being used; no scientific study undertaken on it to date

20 Three thinning patterns Low thinning Extraction racks every 7 th row; Trees removed between racks Thinned to marginal thinning intensity Crown thinning Extraction racks every 7 th row; 2 frame trees/ha selected Two competitor trees removed for each frame tree regardless their size, vigour etc. Graduated density thinning

21 Graduated density thinning (GDT) After first thinning After second thinning

22 Research sites Fossyhill (Co. Laois) -18 ha -YC 22 -PY Coillte management Ballycullen (Co.Wicklow) -6.2 ha -YC 22 -PY PTR Ltd management +irland&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g-s1g-sx9&aql=f&oq= Thinned 211 and 214

23 Experimental plot design 5 m 5 m

24 Data recorded Before thinning Tree co-ordinates DBH Branchiness Stem straightness Forking After thinning Stem damage Tree height Depth of living and dead crown Canopy openness

25 h:d Diameter (cm) Height (m) Stand characteristics post thinning Mean diameter Low Crown GDT Thinning type Mean height Low Crown GDT Thinning type Mean h:d ratio Low Crown GDT Thinning type

26 Volume (m 3 /ha) Volume (m 3 /ha) Volume removed in thinning Low Crown GDT Low Crown GDT 214

27 Future growth Simulate stand development MosesGB growth simulator Compare simulated stand structure after several thinning interventions

28 Thanks to the project team!

29 Continuous Cover Forestry: Delivering sustainable and resilient woodlands in Britain CCFG National Conference Lake District, England 3-5 June 214 Citation: Ní Dhubháin, Á., and L. Vítková Monitoring and Managing CCF in Ireland. Invited Presentation. CCFG National Conference, Braithwaite Institute, Lake District, Cumbria, England. 3-5 June 214. Presentations and Reports from the CCFG National Conference 214 can be downloaded from: