Abstract
The forest processing and emerging wood energy sectors require information on forecast volumes to underpin any investment decisions. Policy formulation at a strategic level also requires robust information that describes the long-term capacity of the national forest estate. There are now increasing competing demands for the smaller sized timber volume assortments which traditionally were used in the manufacture of wood panels and fencing materials. Recent woody biomass projection methods in Ireland have primarily relied upon geospatial data; which has been available at local forest level since 1998. A history and account of forecast methods are detailed in this chapter. The most recent woody biomass projection dates from 2011. A forecast based on input data from three different sources which projects harvested volumes up to 2028, is also described along with its results. The total forecast of net realisable volume production for the Republic of Ireland over the forecast period, 2011–2028, is estimated as being 87.58 million m3 over bark with an additional 2.51 million m3 potentially available in the tip-7 cm category. Research into forecasting methodologies and their application in Ireland is currently underway. One objective of the project is to analyse the possibility of generating a reliable forecast of production from privately owned forests using the existing National Forest Inventory plot data.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
In addition to State-owned forests, Coillte manages areas where it has entered into a partnership arrangement with the landowner and areas where the harvesting rights have been sold to pension vehicles such as the Irish Forestry Unit Trust (IForUT).
- 2.
Yield class is a measure of site productivity and is expressed in terms of m3 growth per ha per annum. The higher the yield class the more productive the site and the greater the overall volume .
- 3.
Available for download at http://www.coford.ie/toolsservices/growfor/
- 4.
Coillte estimates based on historical analysis that these areas can account for between 100,000 and 150,000 m3 per annum.
- 5.
SupplyChip – Facilitating the supply of wood chip from forest plantations for a major heat user. Project funded by COFORD and being undertaken by Teagasc.
References
Broad LR, Lynch T (2006) Growth models for Sitka spruce in Ireland. Irish For 63(1):53–79
Coillte (2011) In: Roundwood Supply Forecast 2011–2015.Coillte. http://www.coillte.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/pdfs/Timber_Sales_Forecast/Forecast_2011-2015_document__2_.pdf. Accessed 21 Sept 2013
Farrelly N, Ní Dhubháin A, Nieuwenhuis M, Grant J (2009) The distribution and productivity of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Ireland in relation to site, soil and climatic factors. Irish For 66(1–2):51–73
Fealy RM, Green S, Loftus M, et al (2009) Teagasc EPA soil and subsoils mapping project-final report. Volume I. Teagasc Dublin
Forest and Wildlife Service (1975) Research Communication No. 16. Revised yield tables for Coastal Lodgepole Pine. Research Branch, Crop Structure, Bray Ireland
Forest and Wildlife Service (1976) Rotation lengths and thinning regimes for conifers. Operational Directive (1/77) rotation lengths and thinning regimes for conifers. Department of Fisheries, Dublin
Forest Service (1987) A forecast of volume production. Forest Service, Dublin
Forest Service (2007) National Forest Inventory Republic of Ireland Results. Forest Service, Dublin
Forest Service (2013a) National Forest Inventory – Republic of Ireland – field procedures and methodology. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Dublin
Forest Service (2013b) National Forest Inventory – Republic of Ireland – results. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Dublin
Forestry Commission (1981) Yield models for forest management. Forestry Commission Booklet 39. HM Stationery Office, London
Gallagher G, O’Carroll J (2001) Forecast of roundwood production from the forests of Ireland 2001–2015. COFORD, Dublin
Garcia O (1979) Modelling stand development with stochastic differential equations. In Elliott DA (Camp.) Mensuration for management planning of exotic forest plantations. FRl Symposium No. 20. New Zealand Forest Service, pp 315–333
Garcia O (1984) New class of growth models for even-aged stands: Pinus radiata in Golden Down’s forest. NZ J For Sci 14:65–88
Garcia O, Ruiz F (2003) A growth model for eucalypt in Galicia, Spain. For Ecol Manag 173:49–62
Jordan P (1992) Volume assortment tables for Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Bong. Carr.) in Ireland. M AgrSc (Forestry) thesis. National University of Ireland, Dublin
Lekwadi S, Nemesova A, Hunter A, Mac Siurtain M (2011) Quantile top height-age site class growth models for state-owned Sitka spruce forest plantations in Ireland. In: International Biometric Society, 3rd Channel Network Conference, France, April 12 2011
Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (2007) The state of Europe’s forests 2007. MCPFE Warsaw
Minister for Lands and Agriculture (1928) Dáil Éireann, vol 23, 3 May 1928
O’Muirgheasa N (1967) Forest research review 1957–1964. Forestry Division, Department of Lands, Ireland. Government Publications, Dublin
Phillips H (2008) Review of rotation lengths and thinning regimes for conifer species. Internal report, FORECAST project. COFORD, Dublin
Phillips H, Redmond J, Mac Siurtain M, Nemesova A (2009) Roundwood production from private sector forests 2009–2028: a geospatial forecast. COFORD, Dublin
Phillips H (2011) All-Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2011–2028. COFORD, Dublin
Purcell T (1979) Inventory of private woodlands, 1973. Department of Fisheries and Forestry, Forest and Wildlife Service, Dublin
Whelan, A (2011) Spatial constraints on geospatial forecasts of Private Sector Timber Supply. ESRI Forestry GIS Solution Conference Redlands, California May 24–26, 2011
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Phillips, H., Twomey, M., Redmond, J. (2017). Ireland. In: Barreiro, S., Schelhaas, MJ., McRoberts, R., Kändler, G. (eds) Forest Inventory-based Projection Systems for Wood and Biomass Availability. Managing Forest Ecosystems, vol 29. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56201-8_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56201-8_17
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56199-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56201-8
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)