Continuous cover forestry has benefit for the bottom line

The Westmeath Farm Forestry Group heard about the benefits of continuous cover forestry at a recent field day in Kinnegad.

The open air event, which was held on a forestry plot in Kinnegad, brought together many of the group’s 30 members from Westmeath and Longford for the first time in a year.

Among the speakers was Liam Byrne of Prosilva Ireland, which promotes continuous cover forestry management as an alternative to clear felling in Irish forests.

Continuous cover forestry (CCC), according to the Teagasc website, “allows for the production of commercial timber while retaining a forest cover at all times. It often relies on harnessing natural forest processes such as natural regeneration of trees, mixed species, increased biodiversity and natural forest development (forest succession)”. The chairman of the Westmeath Farm Forestry Group, Moyvore farmer James Ham, says that Mr Byrne gave members plenty of food for thought. “It’s a more stable type of forestry management. It doesn’t involve clearing a whole site. It involves forests being developed on multiple levels, while still providing a profit.”

“The important thing is that farm forest owners need to get a return from their woodland. It [CCC] allows us to produce timber while not having a negative impact environmentally.”

Established around a decade ago, the group are farmers who decided to allocate a portion of their land to forestry as part of the government’s Afforestation Scheme. The group are also part of a wider umbrella organisation, the Irish Forestry Owners Association (IFO), who represent forestry owners at a national level. Olive Leavy of Kinnegad, on whose forest the recent field day was held, is the secretary of the IFO.

The last few years have been challenging for Irish forestry owners due to the ongoing delays in issuing felling licences by the Department of Agriculture, which has seen some wait more than two years for their application to be processed.

In addition offering advice on how to deal with increasingly frustrating bureaucracy, Mr Ham says that group has provided members with an invaluable support network.

“The group was set up to help farmer forestry owners in learn more about the management of their own woodlands and to help them work together for things like hiring contractors for the various activities required such as thinning, harvesting and road building.

“Most of the farmers who have decided to give over some of their land under the Afforestation Scheme to forestry are first generation foresters. This country is unlike many other European countries, where it is an integral part of agriculture. No knowledge was passed on from father to son. Most people were starting from scratch. This is where the group works really well and is a credit to all the members,” Mr Ham says.

The group runs courses for its members, which will help them manage their forests more efficiently. In the past members have participated in courses on chainsaw usage and tree measuring, which helps farmers identify the best trees in the forest for timber production.

“Liam Kelly the local forestry advisor with Teagasc, has been very helpful. He is always willing to talk to us about different courses that will benefit us,” Mr Ham says.

The group is holding its AGM in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar on November 10 at 8pm. For further information contact Mr Ham at 0872794045.