Forestry & Energy Review - Vol 12 Issue 2 Autumn/Winter 2022 by dawn_media

Forestry & Energy REVIEW Volume 12 Issue 2 Autumn/Winter 2022 Price €4.95. £4.50 (Stg)

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THE VOICE OF FORESTRY & RENEWABLE ENERGY Timber handling and forestry

FOREST SERVICE

ENERGY CRISIS

A new Vision for Forestry Report

Is Woodfuel a solution?

How are Forests coping with Climate Change?

>> SEE PAGE 20

>> SEE PAGE 28

>> SEE PAGE 42

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FITFORESTS

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provides a range of information on forestry, associated grants and felling licences. The COFORD, Wood Technology Ireland and Wood Energy websites listed below are hosted by DAFM and provide a range of information important for the development of the forest sector. The relevant websites are: www.gov.ie/forestry Forestry Grants and S • Forestry Licence Viewer • Online management tools

www.woodtechnologyireland.ie Independent advice on the speciﬁcation and use of wood products, and on timber standards

www.woodenergy.ie Advisory service on the wood biomass supply chain and wood fuels

www.coford.ie Download COFORD publications and Connect Notes

For up-to-date and detailed information on forestry grant schemes, visit

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/e384e-forestry-grants-and-schemes/ For contact details of your local Teagasc Forestry Advisor, visit www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/

Foreword/Contents/Credits

Forestry & Energy REVIEW Volume 12 Issue 2 Autumn/Winter 2022

Features

18 Ireland’s Largest Tree Surgery Company

Dermot Casey Tree Care is a family-owned tree service that started out in 1972 as a small company. Over the last four decades, our tree service has perfected its skills and blossomed into Ireland’s largest tree company.

20 Forest Service

Foreword

elcome to the Autumn/Winter Edition of Forestry & Energy Review Magazine. We are packing our bags at present to head off to the APF Exhibition at Ragley Hall 22/23/24th September. According to the organisers advance ticket sales are well ahead. If you are travelling to the exhibition, please call in and say hello at Stand E10c. The Department have announced a new shared vision for forestry. “The draft overarching objective is to radically and urgently expand the national forest estate.” One consultation suggested an annual target for afforestation of 16,000 hectares, a doubling of the existing target of 8,000 hectares. We all understand the need to approach

Production: Lauren McGregor Contributors: Noel Kennedy Teagasc Marie Doyle UCD Sarah Keenan UCD Charles Harper UCD Killian Murphy UCD Virginia Morera-Pujol UCD Barry MacMahon UCD Dr Simone Ciuti UCD Maarten Nieuwenhuis UCD Tom Kent SETU

22 Driver Training Simulator - Underlining Komatsu’s Commitment To Forestry

The decision by Komatsu to extend the remit of their construction equipment distributor in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales, to include all-Ireland responsibility for the distribution of Komatsu forestry machinery was one that had a transformational impact on the Birdhill and Rathcoole company. That was in 2017 with customer deliveries getting under way the following year.

Publisher: Denis Lane Tel. + 353 91 777222 Email: dlane@dawnmedia.ie

New Shared Vision for Forestry Announced & Licensing System Independent Review - Two significant forestry documents were published recently by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: one looks to the future, the other at the present.

Tom Houlihan Teagasc Michael Somers Teagasc John Casey Teagasc Oliver Sheridan Teagasc Jonathan Spazzi Teagasc Dr. Ian Short Teagasc Dr. James Moran GMIT Dr. Daire Ó hUallacháin UCD Dr. John Finn UCD John O’Connell LTWO Jonathan Sykes LTWO Fergus Moore DAFM Eugene Curran DAFM Rachel Irwin Teagasc Niall Farrelly Teagasc Aine Ni Dhubhain UCD Eugene Hendrick SmartEarth Dr Dheeraj Rathore Teagasc

26 APF 2022 Preview

APF 2022 will be the biggest show yet with over 300 exhibitors booked, 25000 visitors expected and with record advance ticket sales APF 2022 promises to be a fantastic event.

28 Who Dares To Speak Of Woodfuel?

the future with a positive attitude, however we need to base those aspirations on what is being achieved at present. The changes to the system that would be required to dramatically improve afforestation levels will be very difficult to achieve if we retain, what are seen by many, as the most restrictive regulations in Europe. The plan to deliver the increased level of afforestation will need to be as radical as the aspiration on which it is based. Hoping you all Keep safe during these challenging times. We trust you enjoy reading this publication which will continue to provide a voice for the Forestry and Energy sectors. The Publisher Forestry & Energy Review Eibhlín Vaughan UCD John O’Sullivan UCD Fiachra O’Loughlin UCD Mary Kelly-Quinn UCD Eva Freeney UCD Johnathan Turner UCD Kevin O Connell Teagasc Joe Harrington MTU Rodhraí Crowley MTU Denis Mahon DAFM Brendan Fitzsimons Tree Council Brian Tobin UCD Susie Foreman UCD Conor O Reilly UCD Ian Short Teagasc Ken Byrne UL Mike Clancy UL Liwen Xiao TCD Mark O Connor TCD

Ana de Miguel Munoz SETU Enda Coates SETU Brian Cronin SETU Distribution: EM News Newspread Published by: Dawn Media Ltd, 2 Barrack St Clarinbridge Co Galway Tel. + 353 91 777 222 Email: dlane@dawnmedia.ie

All material contained in this edition is copyright of Forestry and Energy Review 2022 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.

Local energy sources, particularly bioenergy for heating , are proven, cost effective ways to increase security of supply. Eugene Hendrick sets out the reasons.

38 Irish Forestry

Family Tree Impact investments (FTI) operated by NewGen Forestry offer a new and Innovative Income Stream to Forest Owners

42 FitForests – Looking At How Ireland’s Forests Are Shaping Up To Climate Change

Climate change is already having impacts on the health of the world’s forests. Healthy forests are critical to mitigate climate change. So how are Ireland’s forests shaping up? Dr.Niall Farrelly, Teagasc outlines the FitForest project that examines if the trees we use in Irish forestry are ready for climate change.

50 Short Rotation Forestry

The interface between agricultural production and conventional forestry.

54 The Northeast Forestry Group Promoting Locally Grown Timber For Local End Use

The Northeast Forestry Group (NEFG) is a Forest Owner Group with over 90 members from counties Meath/Louth/Cavan/Monaghan. Kevin O’Connell of Teagasc reports on their progress.

62 Fast Forward To The Future With The Vimek Next Generation 870.1 Forwarder

As part of their Next Generation Project, Vimek has launched their first ever eight-wheeled forwarding machine.

64 Kesla’s 2209ST Truck Crane

Brand new for 2022; the 9-ton metre Kesla 2209ST.

66 Offshoring Our Carbon Footprint

By Brendan Fitzsimons CEO Tree Council of Ireland

Forestry&Energy

News

Teagasc Facilitation Training Supports Forestry Knowledge Transfer Groups

eagasc has been providing important training to forestry Knowledge Transfer Group (KTG) organisers as many of the groups get underway as part of the 2022 forestry KTG scheme funded by DAFM. The scheme requires that the Department approved advisor or facilitator who applies to run a KTG for a KTG organiser meets a number of eligibility criteria. This includes a requirement to have completed a recognised facilitator course. To date this year Teagasc has provided accredited facilitation training to eleven foresters enabling them to run their KTG groups as approved facilitators. With 12 KTG organisers approved by DAFM for the 2022 scheme and 35 KTG groups proposed to be run this may attract up to 700 forest owner participants. To achieve a positive outcome for all participants the facilitator has an important role here. With their training the facilitator can ensure that the KTG process is inclusive where all participants, including the least powerful voices may be heard and that active participation is encouraged so that the outcome of KTG deliberations matches the needs of participants.

Participants enjoying a walk in Palace NeighbourWood Eplhin, Co Roscommon as part of Teagasc’ series of forest recreation walks

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The Irish Agroforestry forum was formed in 2021. Its main aim is to promote agroforestry as a sustainable land-use option across the island of Ireland. The group networks and advocates where possible, to help inform policy and future agroforestry scheme development. The forum is a membership organisation for farmers and other interested individuals. It provides members with agroforestry information and networking opportunities to help positively inﬂuence policy change. Silvopasture can be part of a sustainable farming model on livestock farms here in Ireland, both for improved animal welfare and for an improved farm environment. The choice of tree, system design, and location will be important to the successful rollout of agroforestry into existing farm systems. The IAF believes that it is vital that farmers help design how trees will ﬁt into their farming enterprises, creating a more sustainable farming model whilst allowing food production to continue. The Irish Agroforestry Forum Education and Promotion Programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

Forestry&Energy

We have a large supply of Conifers, Broadleaves and Hedging for the 2022-2023 season 2019-2020

News

Teagasc Forestry Active At Major Events

eagasc has been busy promoting forestry at a range of national events across the country. These included a number of large Teagasc farming events attended by over 15,000 farmers. With stands at Sheep 22 in Athenry, Beef 22 in Grange and Farming for a Better Future event, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, forestry advisers and researchers were busy discussing many queries about all aspects of forestry including planting land and managing farm forests. Of particular interest was the new forestry programme and tree planting opportunities under the new CAP both due in 2023. In addition Teagasc had a strong forestry presence at the Energy and Farm Business Show, Gurteen College and for the first time was part of the Teagasc marquee at the huge Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park which attracted a massive attendance of 120,000 visitors. More recently Teagasc anchored the Forestry Village at the Tullamore Show which attracted over 60,000 visitors and alsohad a marquee at the Woodland Festival in Clonalis Estate in Roscommon which attracted a large attendance of over 3,500. We are looking forward to meeting farmers and forest owners in the Teagasc stand at the 2022 National Ploughing Championships 20th22nd September in Ratheniska, Co.Laois.

Jonathan Spazzi Teagasc leads a fascinating forest fungi walk at the Woodland Festival in Clonalis, Co. Roscommon

RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award Goes To Cavan – Again!

avan scooped the top honours for the second year running when Stradone based farmer Cathal Rudden was announced as the winner of the 2022 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award. Cathal was presented with his award by Teagasc Director Professor Frank O’Mara and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett at the RDS Spring Awards in Dublin. Receiving the Special Commendation Award in the 2022 RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Category are Cork farmers Willie and Avril Allshire who have integrated forestry into a diverse and innovative farm business.

Managing a suckler herd as his main farm enterprise, since 2014 Cathal has also been managing and integrating a 20 hectare young forest of Sitka spruce and Oak. He decided to plant mainly for economic reasons but sees his forest as a good long-term economic and environmental investment for him and his family and providing him with security to plan and manage the rest of his farm enterprise. The RDS Teagasc Farm Forestry Award category recognises working farmers who follow a whole farm planning approach to successfully integrate their farm and forestry enterprises and contribute to farming sustainability.

Loads of suggestions and great ideas for what trees and forests do for us on the Teagasc Trees at the Tullamore Show

Forestry&Energy

New Opportunity for Forest Owners Have you, or are you about to receive your final premium payment from the Forest Service? If so, why not unlock the Future Value of your Forest?

NewGen Forestry Limited is currently offering the perfect solution to landowners looking for a hassle-free, annual income from their forest. If your forest is 15 years or older, NewGen is offering you the option of selling the harvesting rights to your forest. In return NewGen will offer you an attractive upfront payment plus an annuity payment for up to 20 years. This will provide you with a new and innovative income stream while you, the forest owner, retain 100% ownership of your land. NewGen will also provide a reforestation payment to help replant your forest once felled.

Contact your NewGen Forester - John O’Reilly john@newgenforestry.ie 087 408 4998

www.newgenforestry.ie

News

Nationwide Forest Recreation Walks

n May, Teagasc in association with DAFM ran a successful nationwide series of walks focusing on forest recreation. With the theme “Forests provide valuable spaces for recreation” over 350 people attended the twelve walks across the country to celebrate private and community forests where the owners and local communities have developed recreational facilities. Teagasc’s recreation walks were held in forests ranging from community woodlands (some using NeighbourWood scheme support) to broadleaf and conifer farm forests with built in recreational and amenity facilities. Teagasc forestry advisers, forest owners and community group representatives guided the attendees through the forests while providing information on the trees growing, their management, forest biodiversity features and nuggets of local heritage and culture. The Covid pandemic showed how essential local forests were, and remain, as havens for our health, wellbeing and fitness. Forests are becoming more and more important as a safe and healthy place for recreation and relaxation. The health benefits – both physical and mental – are well documented. Going for a walk improves physical health, stimulates the brain, boosts wellbeing and helps us to sleep better. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s recent nationwide survey bears this out. The survey found that 58% of people surveyed have visited a forest in the past year with exercise and recreation cited as the key visit driver. 57% said they visited woodlands more since the Covid pandemic began when compared to 2019. It was estimated that there were nearly 9 million visits per year to Irish forests in 1999, but that figure has now risen to about 30 million, demonstrating the importance of our forests as valuable places for healthy recreation. Both Coillte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) provide access to the forests, national parks, nature reserves and arboreta under their control. Some local authorities as well as several local communities provide access to wonderful locally managed urban woodlands. Private forests now make up 50% of the total forest area with over 23,000 owners. Please bear in mind that the right of public access can only be granted by the owner and no private forest should be entered unless there is express permission to do so. Watch Teagasc ‘s virtual forester Ciara explain the many social benefits of our forests https://youtu.be/13EBEZfDDzQ

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Frances McHugh Teagasc and her group enjoying a walk in Lisnavagh Estate, Carlow as part of Teagasc’ series of forest recreation walks

Teagasc Forestry Services

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Training

Our research covers many aspects of the life cycle of a forest from seedling to sawdust. Research is carried out in Teagasc research centres in state-of-the-art laboratories and growing facilities and on privately owned farm forests throughout Ireland.

Teagasc provides objective and independent advisory services to all private landowners on forestry related matters. Teagasc forestry advisors provide free, independent and objective advice on any technical or financial aspect regarding forestry.

Teagasc offers a wide range of QQI certified practical courses. Topics can include formative shaping of broadleaves and timber measurement. A forestry qualification from Teagasc enables students to develop wide ranging and interesting careers.

For more information: Visit www.teagasc.ie/forestry Follow @teagascforestry on social media

News

Pine Weevil Conference

he large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) is the most damaging insect pathogen of young conifers on reforestation sites in Ireland. It is estimated that on average 50% of the seedlings on untreated sites in Ireland and the UK are killed by pine weevil during the first few years. European estimates indicate that the pine weevil is the most important pest of reforestation sites in Europe. In May, Teagasc in association with Maynooth University and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) organised a free, one-day conference in Tullamore focusing on integrated pest management for pine weevil in Ireland. With over 100 attendees the conference was part of the DAFM-funded PW-IPM Project –“Towards integrated pest management for pine weevil in Ireland” Speakers from Teagasc, Maynooth University, Coillte, DAFM, private forestry and the UK covered topics including the lifecycle and management options of the large pine weevil, pesticide regulations, reforestation and continuous cover forestry. Dr.Louise McNamara from Teagasc presented an overview of the PW-IPM project on behalf of former project team member Frauke Fedderwitz. She outlined the two main objectives of the project as: To review current and potential management options to mitigate damage from the large Pine weevil in Irish reforestation, identify strengths and weaknesses of the main options and pinpointing knowledge gaps and future research needs for Ireland. Refine methods of forecasting time of onset of Pine Weevil emergence in Ireland. A draft project report on the findings of the project, including a series of recommendations for IPM of the large Pine Weevil has been published. With the felling of conifer forests producing a large increase in breeding material for the pine weevil, whilst reducing plant material suitable for adult feeding and exposing newly replanted trees to likely heavy damage by adult pine weevils, Colm Lyons, Coillte and John Casey, Teagasc addressed the topics of Practices,experience and future developments and Reforestation practice respectively. Their

presentations highlighted the significant impact of weevil damage to increase the re-establishment costs substantially through the cost of insecticide application, replacing plants and additional weeding. Remaining speakers covered a range of important topics. Anne Marie Dillon, DAFM addressed the critical issue of pesticide registration, regulations and future outlook while Roger Moore from Forest Research UK outlined the UK experience with Large Pine Weevil control. With increasing threats from forest pests likely with climate change, forestry consultant Padraig O’Tuama explained the opportunities offered by continuous cover forestry systems to mitigate these risks while Dr.Christine Griffin from Maynooth University addressed the area of Pine weevil forecasting and predicting the time of weevil emergence as a vital element of an IPM control strategy. All the conference presentations are available to view at: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/news/2022/pine-weevilconference.php

Marianne Lyons Ballyhaise College and John Casey Teagasc chat with Minister Charlie McConalogue at the Agriculture and Farm Business Show

Ash Propagation Workshop

n the context of the spread of Ash Die-back disease, Teagasc, in collaboration with Skogforsk, Sweden, co-hosted a two-day workshop in June on methods of propagating Ash for future restoration. Held in the Ashtown Research Centre, Dublin the focus was on propagation of Ash plant material tolerant to the dieback disease. The workshop was attended by representatives from research and industry organisations from seven European countries. It focused on the production of ash cuttings to increase efficiency of breeding activities. It is envisaged that this work will help maintain full range of ecosystem services provided by Ash which is considered a keynote species. Practical demonstrations formed a popular part of the workshop which featured different methods of grafting, budding and soft-wood cuttings for the propagation of Ash plant material tolerant to the dieback disease. An outdoor excursion also included visits to the two Ash gene-banks established at the Teagasc Oak Park Research Centre in Carlow, and the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Speakers at the workshop shared insights on both potential and challenges for breeding ash tolerance to Ash dieback disease in Ireland and Europe. During the event, discussions focused on emerging future threats due to climate change that can be included in on-going research, while breeding for disease tolerance to ensure that “our trees must be future ready. Teagasc is leading the research on improving the genetic tolerance of Ash to dieback in collaboration with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Coillte, Irish universities, and other European partners. Research is currently being undertaken at Teagasc Oak Park and Ashtown research centres on establishing field trials, indoor seed orchard and progeny testing for dieback disease tolerance. Dheeraj Rathore, Teagasc Tree Improvement Researcher, said: “The hands-on training and presentations delivered at this workshop equipped attendees with the capacity to successfully propagate tolerant 10

Forestry&Energy

ash genotypes to include in collections for lab and field assessments. It is crucial that we continue to share both our research knowledge, experiences and applications with each other to speed up the research on breeding ash for disease tolerance and to address other future threats.” Mateusz Liziniewicz, forestry researcher from Skogforsk, Sweden said: “The new propagation techniques demonstrated at the workshop will help to conserve Ash as an important component of Nordic forests, thereby maintaining critical biodiversity with high, or obligate associations to ash.” This workshop was funded by SNS Nordic Forest Research in collaboration with Teagasc.

Dr Dheeraj Rahore, Teagasc discusses tree breeding at the Ash Propagation workshop in Teagasc Ashtown

News

Continuous Cover Forestry Event

Liam Bresnan’s daughter Aoife Ryan discusses their forest’s wonderful biodiversity at the Teagasc CCF event

imerick was the location in July for a successful Continuous Cover Forestry(CCF) field day organised by Teagasc Forestry Development Department. Located near the village of Caherconlish, the event showcased the transformation to continuous cover management of a 10 ha young spruce and oak forest owned by Liam and Helen Bresnan. This is part of their 22 ha mixed farm forest of Sitka spruce, Norway spruce and mixed broadleaf species. Led by local Teagasc forestry adviser Jonathan Spazzi, the 80 participants heard that Liam’s objectives include a balanced mix between timber production, personal satisfaction and legacy. The family greatly value their forest resource and spend a good deal of time in the forest for recreation. For this reason, and given the forest suitability, Liam chose CCF as an appropriate management option. It was explained that while CCF allows commercial timber harvesting while retaining forest cover in the long term, it may not be an option for all forest sites as issues with elevation, exposure and soil quality may raise forest stability issues. It also requires greater management inputs than conventional forestry. Participants learnt that initial works to transform the forest to CCF started in 2020, funded under the DAFM Continuous Cover Forestry Scheme. The importance of the active involvement of the owner was emphasised as the management works to date were described as a

collaborative effort involving Liam and his extended family working closely with local forestry professionals along with Teagasc forestry support. Visiting a number of stops hosted by CCF experts and Bresnan family members, and with good engagement and discussion throughout the participants discussed: • The DAFM CCF scheme details • The management plan and recent thinning operations • Maintenance and pruning • Findings of the recent TranSSFor project (Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to Continuous Cover Forestry) • Management to promote biodiversity and recreation • Timber production under CCF to date and future outlook Early thinning is very important at it removes inferior quality trees and provides appropriate development for remaining trees. It also encourages trees rooting for long term wind-stability which is a key factor for successful long term management under Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). In addition and of great importance to the Bresnans’ is that brighter, more open conditions following selective thinning in spruce will promote natural regeneration of ground flora and trees such as sycamore and oak.

Forestry&Energy

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NEW PONSSE FUTURE CABIN The NEW PONSSE Future Cabin is a completely new cabin filled with improved properties. Further improved visibility is one of the most important features. The windows are now more curved and uniformed all the way to the roof. The operator can check the location of the front wheels and any obstacles through the small windows in the lower part of the cabin. The left B-pillar has been moved backwards, and the right B-pillar has been removed altogether to offer an unobstructed visibility on both sides. The cabin now has more space for the operator and their belongings. The new turning seat, the PONSSE Opti 8 touchscreen, and its completely new and revolutionary PONSSE Opti 5G information system increase comfort.

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KX TREE SHEARS - THE MODERN TOOL FOR CUTTING, COLLECTING AND LOADING TREES With over half a century of experience and expertise behind them, the company’s catalogue now includes all three models of the third generation modular KX Tree Shears: the modern tool for cutting, collecting and loading trees. Representing the best of Finnish craftsmanship, the modular KX Tree Shear grapple was created specifically for commercial forestry. Thanks to continuous research and development each KX tree shear model is efficient and lightweight, making it the perfect attachment for a variety of applications. Combining the most advanced features on the market, the modular structure of KX Tree Shears are extremely easy and quick to use. The interchangeable parts ensure that each model is long-lasting, durable and versatile, making it more economic and cost-effective. KX Z models are equipped with a rotator that spins horizontally to allow access to the right angle every time. The innovative Z facility allows users to change the angle of the tree shear for maximum grip on the tree no matter the angle. Besides clearing field edges, plots and roadside works, all three models are suitable to carry out installation, rescue and clearing processes quickly and efficiently.

Leading producer of forestry cranes and trailers in Europe. • Trailers 6-18 Ton • Cranes from 4.3-10m reach • Suitable for Forest Professionals, farm and hobby users • Single and Twin Spine options • Made from Hardox and Strenx • Hub and Cage Drive available • Options to suit every user With a vast presence within Europe producing over 1360 Cranes and over 1120 Trailers in 2021, get in touch today. BMF also supplies customers with the opportunity to purchase accessories that allow their BMF machinery to be customised from high seat options, to LED boom lighting, basic hydraulic control valves to state of the art full electrical proportionally programmable control valves, ensuring that every customer’s specific requirements will be met.

An optional add on, the collector accessory can save time and money by allowing users to collect more trees per cut, while the extension accessory gives that extra length to access hard to reach areas. M Large is on hand to help decide whether the KX - 280, KX - 350 or KX - 210 model is the best option for your requirements.

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Tree Surgery

Ireland’s Largest Tree Surgery Company:

Dermot Casey Tree Care

t comes as no easy feat, however, as our passionate team has put in hard work and dedication to reach high levels of professionalism in the tree industry. Are you interested in getting your trees serviced and want to learn more about our company? Below, we talk about what we’re doing to continue to provide Ireland with the best tree care available today. DERMOT CASEY TREE CARE IS CHANGING THE TREE INDUSTRY Change is progress here at Dermot Case Tree Care. We understand and appreciate the dynamic changes within the tree industry as new machinery and safety regulations are made. In response to change, we adapt. Here are just a few ways that we continue to provide the most current, innovative tree industry services. High Safety Standards and Accreditations Dermot Casey Tree Care is up-to-date on the highest safety standards and accreditations. And it shows, as we have received ESB Network’s Platinum A safety rating three years in a row. We are I.S.O. Safety Management accredited. This means that we strictly adhere to the progressive guidelines set up to provide our employees, clients, and the general public with the safest tree services possible. We are driven by high performance and the utmost safety. As such, we also follow all of the Health and Safety Authority guidelines, being sure to be entirely compliant with the safety legislations in place. We are also the biggest tree service company for ESB Networks’ Overhead Network Vegetation Management Program. In this program,

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we oversee the safest ways to perform services. Before we perform any tree services, each project is risk-assessed and planned by our strategic team to determine the safest ways to conduct our services. There is no safer tree service company in Ireland! PROFESSIONAL TEAM OF EXPERTS Our team of highly-trained tree professionals are rigorously trained to perform all tree services in the most methodical and expert way. We offer first-class services because we’re not afraid to push our team members to perform to the best of their abilities. Our staff are our pride and joy, as they know the importance of our extremely specialized industry. Here at Dermot Casey Tree Care, staff are continuously updated and trained as new standards come into play. We have changed a lot over the course of the past 40 years, but one thing that has not changed is our ambitious team of arborists. Providing services nationwide, our crew is checked regularly by qualified supervisors to make sure that they are keeping up with our extensive in-house training program. In training, each member of the team is taught the vital skills necessary for upholding our reputation as the best tree service Ireland has to offer. We even have an in-house safety officer who conducts ongoing audits of all of our staff, our equipment, and the safety procedures that keep our community safe and thriving. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT At a time when environmentalism is becoming ever more prominent, Dermot Casey Tree Care has stayed up-to-date on the most environmentally-friendly ways to provide tree services to the community. Environmental protection is key to our business’s mission.

Tree Surgery

All of our services use energy-efficient techniques to reduce pollution and lower our carbon footprint. We comply with all legal requirements for environmental responsibility within the tree service sector. Even our large diameter chippers are environmentally-friendly in that they produce Biofuel, which is a form of renewable energy.

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MODERN, UPDATED EQUIPMENT Technology is an ever-changing world. In order to keep up with the changes within the tree service industry, we continuously update our machinery as technological advancements emerge. We were Ireland’s first company that used insulated platform equipment in working with dangerous power lines. We also were one of the first on board for using self-propelled mulching machines that have grown in popularity across Ireland in recent years. Currently, we have invested in the best of the best when it comes to equipment. Examples of our latest machinery include: • Purpose-built forest tractors. • Felling grapples. • 20” self-propelled chippers. • Site clearance tracked mulchers. • Excavators with telescopic booms fitted with sip mulcher or bio harvesting shears. Having current machinery increases performance, ensuring that we get projects done in a timely manner.

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TREE SERVICES WE PROVIDE Dermot Casey Tree Care provides tree services to both residential and commercial areas, playing a prominent role in the landscaping and tree maintenance of many communities within Ireland. We value our community’s safety, and trees are an important part of that safety. Here are the numerous services that our tree company provides:

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• • •

Tree Surgery- tree branches are carefully and safely removed using professionally-approved practices. Stump Removal- unsightly tree stumps are removed completely and properly disposed of Hedge Cutting- aesthetic hedge maintenance makes your hedges look professional and attractive Tree Services- this includes state-of-the-art tree removal, pruning, and trimming Site Clearance- high-tech robotic mulchers remove trees from domestic and commercial sites Landscaping- planting, shaping, and other landscape maintenance is conducted year-round, for every season and occasion 24-Emergency Works- dangerous trees that pose safety hazards to passersby are removed around the clock

SAFETY YOU CAN TRUST We understand the hazards that come with performing specialized services such as tree surgery. That is why we are 100% committed to the reduction of any harm that might befall our team, clients, and general public. When you work with us, you know you are in safe hands. GET YOUR FREE EXPERT QUOTE If you’re ready to have your trees serviced by Ireland’s first and biggest tree surgery company, then look no further. Dermot Casey Tree Care is here to help you every step of the way. With our professional team of tree experts, we will work with you from start to finish to provide your trees with the best tree care services available. Contact us today via telephone 022-55000 or email at treecare@ dermotcasey.com to get started with a free quote.

Forestry&Energy

Forest Service

New Shared Vision for Forestry Announced & Licensing System Independent Review

By Denis Mahon & Fergus Moore | Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

wo significant forestry documents were published recently by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: one looks to the future, the other at the present. The Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland by 2050 provides inspiration and motivation for the next three decades to deliver what is needed for our forests. The Regulatory Review of Forestry by solicitors Philip Lee and Associates addresses a major talking point in the sector, confirms the Department is acting properly in its procedures, and identifies a number of recommendations.

A NEW SHARED VISION FOR FORESTS You might ask why we need a vision for forestry? In short, we want to amplify the benefits of forestry, encourage its expansion, and stand behind a maxim that shows how proud we are to be involved in the sector. At its core the Vision is rooted in the concept of the right trees in the right places for the right reasons, with the right management. Ireland is in the midst of a series of crises and emergencies: from housing and health, to climate and biodiversity. We know that forestry is part of the solution. The government’s Climate Action Plan acknowledges that “afforestation is the single largest land-based climate change mitigation measure available to Ireland”. A vision for the future of forestry, that is shared and supported by stakeholders, will help us all to enhance the many benefits forests bring. The Vision was crafted by Project Woodland, the stakeholder review group formed in 2021 by the minister responsible for forestry, Senator Pippa Hackett. The Vision evolved over time after much discussion and consultation. Project Woodland commissioned a series of engagement measures to assess the views of stakeholders and the wider public on the Vision and Ireland’s wider forest strategy. These consultations include: • an online public consultation survey, which received more than 3,000 responses from individuals, private organisations, public authorities and academic institutions; • a deliberative dialogue event in the style of the citizens’ assembly, featuring 99 people representative of the wider population; • a public attitudes survey of more than 1,000 people based on faceto-face interviews; • a study of the attitudes of local and rural communities which features a survey of more than 600 people, a series of focus groups, and an examination of international best practice; • a youth forum run by Foróige, a youth development organisation working with 50,000 people aged 10-18; • and a series of bilateral meetings between the Department and key stakeholders. Once finalised the individual reports outlining the results of these consultations, and a summary of all six, will be available on gov.ie/ forestry. This level of consultation was considered necessary to create a truly shared cross society vision for the future of trees and forests in Ireland. 20

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CONSULTATION RESULTS It is fascinating to see that many of the same responses were repeated across the different engagements. There is overwhelming support – across all consultation strands – to plant more trees and forests. 97% of people agree that Ireland needs more forests (online public consultation survey). 85% of people feel there is too little forestry in Ireland (community engagement study). 75% of people are in favour of planting more forests in their own county, and 76% in their nearest urban area (public attitudes survey). 95% of people agree Ireland needs to take action to meet our 18% target for forest cover, and 88% believe we should double – or even further increase – our annual afforestation targets to 16,000 hectares (deliberative dialogue). Overall, the consultation shows that the current level of forest cover in Ireland is too low and there is an urgent need for a greater level of ambition. Climate change is highlighted as one of the most important reasons for planting more forests. Almost 98% of people said creating new forests is important or very important for climate change (public attitudes survey). A total of 54% of people believe there are no preferable land uses that provide the same benefits to climate change than forestry (community engagement study). Respondents in the youth forum made clear that clean air and carbon capture are among the most important benefits of trees as they act as “the lungs of the planet” (youth forum). A majority (52%) of people want to combat climate change by expanding forest cover beyond the 18% target; and they agree this will require farmers to become more involved in forestry (deliberative dialogue). Ultimately our ambition to expand forest cover depends on farmers and landowners deciding to plant trees on their land. This was highlighted in all six consultation engagements. Switching to forestry is a significant decision for landowners, and recent figures show that earnings from forestry compare favourably with other types of farming. Teagasc’s 2021 farm income survey shows average 2021 earnings by farm type: cattle rearing €326/ha, other cattle €466/ha, sheep €466/ ha, tillage €846/ha and dairy €1,526/ha. The Department’s current forest programme pays landowners annual premiums of up to €680/ha for 15 years with thinnings (€400-€1,500/ha approx.) and harvesting (€15,000-€30,000/ha approx.) bringing additional income as the forest matures. NEW FOREST STRATEGY AND FORESTRY PROGRAMME The findings of these various consultation methods and the Shared Vision are helping to develop a new Forest Strategy to 2030 and a new Forest Programme 2023-2027. The draft overarching objective of the Forest Strategy is to radically and urgently expand the national forest estate to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, economic development, employment and quality of life. The Strategy will identify key goals and enablers to achieve this objective.

Forest Service

FOREST LICENSING Successive judgments from the European Court of Justice and the Irish Courts in relation to environmental regulation resulted in a requirement for a significantly more complex Forest licencing process. This had resulted in a backlog in processing applications. Significant progress is being made in reducing this backlog. Significant additional resources and improvements to process have been introduced and outputs from Project are now contributing to an improved functioning licensing system. Through the Project Woodland stakeholder engagement, it was clear that there were different interpretation of the legal framework in respect of forestry licensing and against that background, an independent legal and regulatory review of forestry licensing has been completed by Philip Lee LLP. The report involved significant consultation with Irish stakeholders and with experts in other jurisdictions. The Project Woodland Project Board is examining the

report at present and the Department is preparing an action plan to implement its recommendations, there are a number of constructive recommendations which are being explored with urgency. THE FUTURE OF FORESTRY The Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests and the Regulatory Review of Forestry shows the scale of the challenge and the legal complexities facing everyone involved in forestry. Both documents highlight the good work being done and our ambitions to further expand. Multiple public consultations and engagements show stakeholders and the public want to meet (and even go beyond) the Climate Action Plan’s target to increase forest cover from 11% to 18% by 2050. Later this year the Department will publish a new Forest Strategy and a Forestry Programme to realise this target. This is an exciting time to be involved in forestry.

Forestry&Energy

Komatsu

Driver Training Simulator - Underlining Komatsu’s Commitment To Forestry The decision by Komatsu to extend the remit of their construction equipment distributor in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales, to include all-Ireland responsibility for the distribution of Komatsu forestry machinery was one that had a transformational impact on the Birdhill and Rathcoole company. That was in 2017 with customer deliveries getting under way the following year.

n the intervening years, Komatsu harvesters and forwarders – bedecked in their distinctive red body colour - have been cutting an increasingly broader swathe through the forests of Ireland, Northern Ireland included. Speaking to Forestry & Energy Review, McHale Plant Sales chairman, Michael McHale expressed appreciation for what he called ‘the welcome’ that forestry owners and contractors have given to his personnel since the company’s appointment to represent Komatsu forestry equipment. “Though our history with Komatsu stretches back over generations, the opportunity to extend our interests into forestry and timber

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harvesting was one we grasped with enthusiasm” McHale said. “Giving us an entrée into an exciting and important field at the heart of our economic life, we look forward to seeing the sector grow in economic terms and to working with the industry as its contribution to our environmental wellbeing and the landscaping of our countryside becomes even more pronounced” he added. DRIVER TRAINING SIMULATOR Embarking on their new mission, the McHale organisation has embraced the forestry sector with the same high degree of interest and enthusiasm as that shown to Komatsu construction equipment for

Komatsu

which they have been distributor for more than 25 years. Latest evidence of this can be seen in their purchase of a Komatsu Driver Training Simulator currently located at McHale’s modern, east coast headquarters in Rathcoole, on the southwest outskirts of Dublin city Designed for forest harvester and forwarder driver training, the unit comes equipped with a VR (Virtual Reality) headset, driver-info screen and hand controls which the operator works from a full-size driver’s seat. Ahead , projected in full colour on to a large, wrap-around panoramic screen, is an interactive graphic of the ‘virtual forest’ on which the simulator driver will work. Seeing one skilled in the complexities required to operate timber harvesters and forwarders as being ‘worth his or her weight in gold’,

their investment in the training simulator is viewed by McHale as a major gesture of support for its many forestry contractors and customers. Mindful that good handling techniques, operational excellence and an awareness of on-site safety are factors that make a key difference when striving to achieve productivity goals, McHale sees it contributing immeasurably towards helping customers to ‘break-the-tape’ in productivity and performance audits. Said by McHale sales director, Denis McGrath to be ‘a safe and easy-to-understand introduction to the fundamentals of real-life forest machinery operation’, the new Driver Training Simulator is available for use by customers when instructing new recruits or honing the skills of experienced drivers.

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Komatsu Viewing their purpose in acquiring the new simulator as one ‘intended to give contractors a head start in training new recruits, in refreshing the skills of existing operatives, and in upskilling within a customer’s wider employee ranks’, McGrath believes that - with the pace of timber felling now speeding up thanks to a relaxation in the issue of felling licences - contractors will be obliged to place even greater focus on productivity. “In this context, operator training will be an even more important pursuit” McGrath said. Increasingly familiar in major timber felling sites and in the yards of leading contractors, the Komatsu Harvester and Forwarder ranges has attracted a legion of users since McHale Plant Sales was appointed distributor. Amongst a number of recent sales was the delivery of a model 845 and 855 Forwarders to Tony Codd’s Wexford-based South East Timber operation. Other recent deliveries include a 901XC Harvester to Waterfordbased Foley Timber Harvesting and another 901XC Harvester to Cork-based K-Line Logging.

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GOOD NEWS Long known as Komatsu Forest, equipment has been re-styled and will now bear the name Komatsu only bringing the range into line in name and logo style with its familiar bright yellow construction industry stablemates. For owners, this small change represents further good news. By virtue of their 25 plus years history as their representatives in Ireland, McHale Plant Sales is fully versed in the technical and operational features of Komatsu machinery. Across Ireland - in Northern Ireland and in the Republic - this can be seen in a dedicated field force of customerfacing personnel, in sales, in parts and in on-site, mobile service and maintenance support. Another good news development that points to Komatsu’s future priorities was their opening of a new ‘net zero carbon’ factory in Sweden last year, indicating the importance that Komatsu now attaches to emissions reduction and carbon control.

Our Wheeled Harvesters

The Komatsu harvesters have been in the forefront of productivity enhancing technologies for decades, and the best days are still ahead. In everything from smarter thinning to heavy duty final felling. Choosing a red harvester will get you maximised productivity from day one and many years to come. Komatsu offers an impressive line-up of market-leading harvesters that are paired with equally impressive services. The power to deliver.

Birdhill, Co. Tipperary Tel: 061-379112

Greenogue Business Park Rathcoole, Co Dublin Tel: 01-4018540

sales@mchaleplant.com www.mchaleplantsales.com

APF

APF 2022 Preview

APF 2022 will be the biggest show yet with over 300 exhibitors booked, 25000 visitors expected and with record advance ticket sales APF 2022 promises to be a fantastic event.

aking place at Ragley Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire between the 22-24th September there is real excitement growing in the industry after the postponement due to the pandemic in 2020. With The Arb Show joining forces with APF 2022 for this year has brought an even bigger arb focus to the event as well as many extra events and competitions. There are more things to see and do than ever before. The Husqvarna World 25m Poleclimbing Championships has a prize fund of over £10000 in cash and Husqvarna equipment. The current world champion Dan Whelan will be defending his title after having recently set a new world record with an almost unbelievable time of just 8.84 seconds. There are classes for experts, novices, ladies and veterans. The A W Jenkinson and Tilhill European Chainsaw Carving Championships sees 25 of Europe’s top carvers compete over the three days to produce a fantastic sculpture. These will be auctioned on Saturday afternoon. There will also be two daily speed carves with 8 carvers having just 30 minutes to complete a sculpture. The Arb Show @ APF 2022 will be a ‘must see’ area for all arborists. Located at point 760 on the demo circuit it has three great action events taking place. The Harkie UK Open tree climbing championships will run over all three days with daily prizes for Premier, Expert and Novice classes. Never sport climbed before? There will be equipment and help available to get you started. The Harkie Reeve competition is a fun team event for four people to manoeuvre a dummy along a vertical obstacle course. There are great Harkie ‘goody bags’ on offer for the

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fastest three times and all competitors get a free beer on the Harkie stand. For the very first time at the show visitors will get the rare opportunity to watch a tree dismantling by crane demo by Arborcraft & Afan Treescapes Ltd. There will be daily demonstrations at 1pm using a 40T mobile crane to dismantle a mature Oak Tree Entry forms for the poleclimbing and UK Open tree climbing are available on the website. On Friday 23rd the McVeigh Parker British Open Fencing Championships will see a dozen 2 -man teams of the UK’s best fencers competing to erect 60m of stock fence by hand using several technical skills and techniques in the quickest possible time. The traditional woodland crafts area, is the largest and most comprehensive ever. Over 25 unusual and rare woodland crafts will be on display, including charcoal burning, hot hooping and wheelwright demos, clog making, willow weaving, coracles, hazel hurdles, cleft oak, oak swill baskets, devon stave basket, hazel whisket baskets, chair making and carving, cane, rush and seagrass seat weaving, rake making, pole lathe turning, dug out canoes and Sussex Pimps! You can book in to do a whole day course to learn how to make a hay rake. The World Log To Log race will have 10 of the top pole lathe turners going head to head against the clock to produce two perfect chair legs for Ash logs. In 2018 the winner took just 9 minute 24 seconds. The British Horse Loggers will be running daily demos and offering advice on horse logging and will be offering have-a-go opportunities to handle these gentle giants.

APF

The Forest Worker Zone at point 170 on the demo circuit will see a collaboration of events and demos hosted by the FWZ, the Forest Industry Safety Accord FISA, the Forestry Contracting Association FCA, leading training and assessment centre MWMAC, the Forestry Commission FC, the Landworkers Alliance LWA and the National Coppice Federation NCFED. All the demos are designed to aid and inform those working in the forest and woodland industries. These include the Komatsu harvester simulator, daily demos of chainsaw maintenance, chainsaw competency, winching demos, the safe use of tree shears, the Woody Branch campaign for sustainable forests, coppice management and the new firewood regulations. If all the above was not enough there will be the infamous ‘Chainsaw Hold Out Competition’ and even Yoga first thing in the morning in the FWZ marquee! The new Arb Worker Zone on Stand A12 run by The Arb Association will have a great daily programme of practical and technical demos of a wide range of arb subjects. There will be line throwing and knot tying competitions. In the Arborists Workshop there is a fantastic series of seminars on a wide range of topics. Please see the daily programmes on

our website for full details and times. Confor will be hosting its AGM as well as other forest related seminars on its stand at point 1640 on the demo circuit. All this is in addition to 5km and £80 million of every type of forestry, woodland, arboriculture and fencing machinery imaginable. Exhibition Secretary Ian Millward commented “We are very excited about the range of events and features that APF 2022 is offering this year and would really like to thank all our sponsors and the Arb Association for enabling us to stage these. We have tried very hard to make sure visitors can come along and update their knowledge and skills as well as having a great day out. APF 2022 is not just a place for a great day out but a place to learn, listen to experts and update your knowledge on every aspect of trees and timber. There is far too much to do in one day. Why not book some local accommodation and come for a couple of days. We look forward to welcoming you to APF 2022”

GALLINAGH FINN VALLEY NURSERY LTD, GARDEN CENTRE Email: sales@gallinaghnursery.ie Web: www.gallinaghnursery.ie

GROWING & STILL GROWING SINCE 1986 THE MAIN PRIVATE GROWERS & PROVIDERS OF HARDWOODS, CONIFERS, ORNAMENTAL, TREE SHRUBS & ROSES - We also grow and provide Christmas Trees - The ONLY PRIVATE GROWER OF HAWTHORN * LAUREL * BEECH * ESCALLONIA * GRISELINIA AND OTHER SEASIDE & INLAND HEDGING IN THE NORTHWEST We also stock Peatmoss, compost, barkchips, tree stake, tree ties, windbreak (netting) & ground cover

Backleas, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, F93AD62 Proprietor: John Gallinagh Tel: 0749132612 Contact Conor Gallinagh, BAgrSc, Horticulture, 087 6496887 John Gallinagh: 087 6988481

Forestry&Energy

Woodfuels

Who Dares To Speak Of Woodfuel? By Eugene Hendrick

Leading on climate and land use at SmartEarth www.smartearth.ie

Figure 1. Wholesale gas prices on the Dutch TTF market over the past year (from early September 2022).

ENERGY CRISIS A previous column here outlined the significant role that sustainable woodfuels can and should play in heating Ireland’s homes, commercial and public buildings and institutions, while displacing fossil fuels such as oil and gas. In the meantime, due to the consequences of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, most of Europe is now in the midst of a full-blown energy crisis. Domestic electricity and gas charges already in place and shortly coming into effect will increase annualised costs for the average household by over €2,000 compared with a year ago, to reach almost €4,000 over the course of a year.1 This reflects a gas price of upwards

of 12.6 c/kWh over the coming period. With the wholesale market currently well above that price, and amid tightening supply, further increases are likely. Wholesale market gas prices have in fact been rising ever since early 2021, they finished the year on around 7 c/kWh, followed by a sharp rise in the days before and after the Russian invasion in February, peaking at an unprecedented 22.8 c/ kWh. Prices fell back over the spring and early summer, but rose again and then peaked at 33.8 c/ kWh at the end of August, before falling back to 21.5 c/kWh at the end of August (Figure 1). All this comes as EU member states scramble to fill gas storage

https://www.bonkers.ie/compare-gas-electricity-prices/price-changes/#:~:text=The%20average%20annual%20electricity%20bill,the%20course%20 of%20a%20year.

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Woodfuels

Figure 2. Primary production of natural gas by EU producing country, 2020-2021 (source eurostat). facilities (apart from Ireland which has almost no gas storage infrastructure). Prices have begun to rise yet again in recent days as Nord Stream 1, the main gas supply line from Russia to Europe has been effectively shut down for the foreseeable future. Gazprom has said supplies were halted “after a leak was detected”, and the flow is not scheduled to restart until repairs have been fully implemented. While there are significant gas supplies from Norway and in member states such as The Netherlands, Romania and Germany, and indeed Ireland (Figure 2), as well as liquified natural gas (LNG), the level of Russian gas supply in markets such as Germany reached a level over the past decades sufficient to gravely disrupt gas and electricity prices and hence economies and societies if the supply was reduced or cut off. WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKETS Clearly the objective for Russia is to disrupt EU economies and societies in response to trade and other sanctions imposed by the EU following the invasion of Ukraine. This includes stoking hyper-escalation of EU gas and electricity prices, and inflation, leading to unsustainable charges for heat and power over the coming winter for all consumers, from residential to heavy industry. Most member states and the UK are facing a difficult winter. In the necessary move to renewable power generation through sources such as wind and solar, there was a need for balancing power from dispatchable sources for when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, and that has increasingly fallen to gas, especially as it is among the most efficient and less polluting fossil fuels. This simple fact of creeping dependence on gas-fuelled electrical generation, particularly in those countries with a high level of wind and solar on the grid, seems not to have been sufficiently considered in the design of wholesale electrical markets. The markets operate across the EU through regional power exchanges, and according to rules set out in an EU legislation. In Ireland this is SEMO - the integrated single electricity market which went live in November 2007, and trades wholesale electricity in Ireland and Northern Ireland on an all-island basis. In common with other exchanges, a number of mechanisms underpin the SEMOpx (power exchange) wholesale electricity market. These are designed to provide the flexibility and capacity needed to instantaneously match supply to demand, and maintain the frequency needed for appliances to work. The most front-facing part of the wholesale electricity 30

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market is the day-ahead market, which covers over 80% of electricity trades. The market is a daily auction that takes place at 11:00 each day, where exchange members may trade electricity in 24 one-hour trading periods starting at 23:00 that evening and finishing at 23:00 the following day. The day-ahead market operates by providing the platform for buyers and sellers to trade. The market operates through what is called marginal pricing, and the market clears at a price that matches supply and demand. This is also referred to as a pay-as-clear market, where all electricity generators get the same price for the power they are selling at a given moment. Bidding goes from the cheapest to the most expensive energy source. The cheapest electricity is bought first, next offers in line follow. Once the full demand is satisfied, all suppliers obtain the price of the last producer from which electricity was bought. This is what economists term the equilibrium price, and where demand and supply curves meet.

Typical supply and demand curves – in effect there is one supply and one demand curve across each trading event, and P2 for example is the equilibrium price.

Worrell Harvesting Ltd. The complete forestry company FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Ken 087 2599372 & Cormac 086 1712279

Do you want to sell your timber? Worrell harvesting is specialising in timber from Pine & Spruce Clearfell and Thinning’s, Hardwood and Softwoods. Fire damaged areas, roadside timber.

Contact us today for top log prices, reduced reforestation cost, extra revenue from BIOMASS HARVESTING, and a Demo of our LOG WATCH live digital Timber Trackability system

Woodfuels The overall market structure, which is far more complex than depicted here, is designed to integrate national energy markets, increase competition and to provide better security of supply. Apart from the electricity generators and retailers (such as SSE Airtricity, Electric Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy) the other main players in the electricity market in Ireland are EirGrid and the commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). EirGrid operates and develops the national high voltage electricity grid. It is a state-owned company, separate from the ESB which is charged with maintaining the grid. The grid brings energy from generation stations to heavy industry and other high power consumption users. The grid also supplies the distribution network operated by ESB. The electricity market is regulated in Ireland by the CRU. It has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in energy and water. Its stated mission is to protect the public interest in Water, Energy and Energy Safety -“[t]he work of the CRU impacts every Irish home and business, by ensuring safe, secure and sustainable energy and water supplies at a reasonable cost”. STRESS TEST The increase in gas prices in the EU over the past year can be regarded as a stress test of the EU’s wholesale electricity market. The marginal price or pay-as-clear model seemed to work well when wholesale gas prices were at the level of 1-3 c/kWh, as they were in the decade up to early 2021, and gas generated electricity could cost-effectively back up intermittent supplies. However, as shown in Figure 1, gas prices in the Dutch (TTF) market, and in the UK market 2 are ten times the levels prevailing prior to early 2021. These increases in gas prices have resulted in the sharp increases in wholesale electricity prices in Ireland, as shown in Figure 3, with prices at the end of July reaching 27 c/kWh, about 92% higher than the price prevailing a year earlier. Bear in mind this market clearance price applies to all those bidding into power exchanges. For renewable power suppliers, and some fossil suppliers, with a built-in pricing model that is two to three times lower than the prevailing average market price this can generate windfall profits3. (Those installations that successfully bid into RESS auctions and which are generating electricity will be required to refund profits generated above the strike price. The majority of renewable energy suppliers however remain on the earlier REFIT model that has no such provision.) So, the EU wholesale electricity market could be regarded as failing the stress test imposed by the unprecedented gas price increases, mainly due to the marginal price model that underpins the day-ahead market. What was unthinkable in many circles a few weeks ago – reform or adjustment to the EU’s wholesale electricity market - is now on the cards4, and due to be discussed at an upcoming emergency meeting of EU energy ministers. Tangible evidence of stress test failure has been the introduction of taxes on windfall profits arising from the wholesale electricity market by Spain, Italy, Romania, Greece, and now Germany.

THE DRIVE TO ELECTRIFICATION In Ireland the focus of the crisis has mostly been on utility prices, but EirGrid has been consistently warning of the lack of capacity on the grid to safely cope with increases in current and forecast electricity demand. These concerns are shared by CRU, but there are different views on the causes of the capacity problem and how to deal with it. In one way this is a separate issue to gas supply and price, but there is an underlying assumption by the electricity community that demand will continue to expand, as electricity, and particularly renewable electricity drives the move away from residential and business fossil heating, from petrol and diesel to electric powered cars, and as IT companies continue to pressurise for more data centres, and as the economy generally expands. All these developments are predicated on having sufficient gas and other fossil fuel sources, with a dusting of dispatchable bioenergy power, as back up for cloudy, calm days. In view of the ongoing energy crisis, and inherent problems with the electricity market as it struggles to accommodate wind and solar, is it wise to continue a headlong rush to ever expand electrical capacity? Is there a need to look more fundamentally at the demand side, and beyond the efficiency straightjacket, at ways to constrain the inevitable increase in electricity demand that is ingrained in economic policy, and to better mobilise local, sustainable bioenergy in heating, as well as other local sources such as geothermal, that have a negligible electric footprint?

Windmills in the landscape. Image courtesy of Pexels.

Figure 3. Electricity traded and average wholesale prices October 2018-July 2022 on the all- island Single Electricity Market (source SEMO). UK prices have been lower than in Europe for much of the summer as the country is using its liquefied natural gas import capacity to send on supplies by pipeline to Europe. Also, the UK also gets about 50 per cent of its annual gas consumption from domestic production in the North Sea. (Financial Times, 30 August 2022). 3 Windfall profit’ refers to exceeding financial gains of companies, made in a short amount of time, due to favourable market factors instead of investment or hard work, and at the expense of wider society. 2

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It’s a Liebherr. Job done.

Timber handling and forestry

Liebherr-Ireland. Unit 23N, Greenogue Industrial Estate • Rathcoole • Dublin • D24 P38P • Phone +353 (1) 458 7650 LGBSalesLIR@liebherr.com • liebherr.com

Woodfuels

A modern biomass boiler installation. Image courtesy of McCauley Wood Fuels Ltd.

BIOENERGY’S ROLE IN MEETING ENERGY SECURITY NEEDS, DECARBONISING HEAT AND CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION Local energy sources, particularly bioenergy for heating, are proven, cost-effective ways to increase security of supply. As outlined in the last issue of Forestry and Energy Review, there is a growing supply of forest biomass available to fuel clean and efficient heating across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, which when allied to purpose grown bioenergy and other biofuels, can supply up to 17% of heat requirements by 2030, according to the SEAI National Heat Study. Apart from the bioenergy supply side, which has been shown to have a robust and sustainable supply line, concerns about the impact of biomass combustion on the levels of greenhouse gas emissions and air quality are often raised in public discourse. These are legitimate concerns, which are addressed in depth in the fifth volume of Wood as a Fuel 4 , co-authored by Pieter Kofman and I, and was published early last year. To summarise the arguments, let us first take the greenhouse gas dynamics of woodfuel combustion. An underlying assumption is that the fuel is sourced from sustainably managed forests, that trees suitable for sawnwood manufacture are excluded, and the emphasis is the harvest of small, low value thinnings and residues. The framework is the forest landscape, working up from individual stands, where carbon stocks fluctuate over time according to harvest levels and sometimes natural disturbances (in the Irish context that is mainly windthrow). We are looking at the time it takes for greenhouse gas emissions savings from using biomass to exceed the emissions from fossil fuel combustion. This will take time as the not only the emissions from woodfuel combustion need to be recaptured in the stand, but any sequestration foregone must also be compensated. This is not carbon neutrality; this occurs when the bioenergy system results in zero emissions compared to the fossil system. This can take many years and may never actually occur depending growth rates and economic factors. But once the emissions from the bioenergy system are less than emissions from the fossil system then bioenergy results in a net reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. To illustrate these concepts let us look first at the stand level: here we see a stand managed over several rotations for a range of forest products, including bioenergy. We look here exclusively at the bioenergy harvest (though bearing in mind that thinning results in proportionately more 34

Forestry&Energy

sawlog material over a given period of time compared to no thinning). Figure 4 illustrates the concept. There is always a greenhouse gas cost when bioenergy is used. The cost includes the higher level of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of heat energy generated from combustion of biomass compared to oil and gas. But when biomass is combusted, it displaces fossil fuel emissions, and when the forest is regenerated or grows back after thinning the carbon is recaptured and sequestration foregone is also compensated. At the stand level this may take a decade or more. Over time and under successive rotations carbon savings accumulate compared with the fossil fuel comparator. This is the fundamental concept underlying the use of biomass thinnings and residues (which can pay back carbon debt in periods less than one year). Figure 5 illustrates the concept at the landscape level. Fluctuations in individual stands are evened out, and depending on forest management and changes in forest cover, compensation point occurs at the time when there are no net emissions compared with the fossil system. Each additional unit of bioenergy then delivers permanent greenhouse savings.

Figure 4. Illustrative accumulating greenhouse gas emissions savings over time under successive bioenergy harvest (as part of the overall harvest regime), as biomass is removed from the forest to displace fossil fuel. (Illustration from Wood as a Fuel by Pieter D Kofman and Eugene Hendrick, based on Cowie et al. 2013 On the Timing of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Benefits of Forest-Based Bioenergy. IEA Bioenergy. https://www.ieabioenergy.com/wp-content/ uploads/2013/10/On-the-Timing-of-Greenhouse-Gas-MitigationBenefits-of-Forest-Based-Bioenergy.pdf). 4

Available from ArrowManagement.ie

Mark Mobile: 086 2261901 Office Number Cora: 0863643858

Woodfuels

Figure 5. Attainment of compensation point at the forest landscape level when there are zero net emissions from a bioenergy system relative to a fossil fuel comparator (sources as in Figure 4). These illustrations and more in-depth analysis in such as Wood as a Fuel and primary literature provide the evidence base to show that well specified harvest of forest biomass and the substitution of fossil fuel, particularly in efficient uses such as heating, leads to permanent climate benefits over periods of years from one to two decades. Hence it makes sense to use biomass from well managed forests to substitute fossil fuels. Recent years have seen a tightening of air quality regulations. Inefficient wood combustion, particularly in residential use in open fires or older stoves, and using wet, poor quality woodfuels, particularly in urban areas, has been shown to lead to a deterioration in air quality. These concerns are being addressed by EU and national regulation. As far as firewood is concerned new mandatory regulations around woodfuel moisture content are due to come into force on the 31

October. The maximum moisture content for woodfuel will be set at 25%, and this will reduce to 20% from 1 September 2025. As woodfuel combustion emissions rise sharply with increasing moisture levels, the regulation is set to have a significant impact on air quality. At the EU level a new Regulation 2015/1185 under the Ecodesign Directive has been introduced, which sets out mandatory emission limit values (ELVs) for appliances sold from 1 January 2022 with an output of 50 kW or less, in other words the vast majority of single unit residential appliances. These developments allied to correct installation and appliance maintenance, and proper operation, particularly during lighting and when adding fuel (a little and often) will, based on the scientific literature, provide for very significant reductions in particulate emissions from residential woodfuel combustion (see Figure 6). Larger scale installations such as biomass boilers for applications such as hotel and institutional heating have ELVs set under Regulation 2015/1189 of the Ecodesign Directive (up to 500 kW thermal output). Larger scale plant in the range of 1-5 MW, such as used for heating large public buildings, hospitals, and for distract heating come under the Medium Combustion Plants Directive (which extends to plant up to 50 MW). These insights and regulations underpin modern bioenergy, a clean and sustainable form of heat and combined heat and power. Boiler design is continually evolving to become more efficient and cleaner. Emissions from modern stoves and boilers are up to ten times lower than open fires, and three times as efficient. In times when security of energy supply is a critical need, bioenergy has a key role to play in diversifying and securing Ireland’s energy future.

Figure 6. Infographic outlining four key requirements to tackle emissions from residential combustion of woodfuels. 36

Forestry&Energy

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Irish Forestry

Family Tree Impact investments (FTI) operated by NewGen Forestry offer a new and Innovative Income Stream to Forest Owners Initial target of 2000ha of harvesting rights fast approaching

he recently launched forestry investment platform, Family Tree Impact Investments (“FTI”), operated by sustainable forestry manager NewGen Forestry, is actively acquiring forestry harvesting rights from existing plantation owners. FTI and NewGen are fast approaching their initial target: the acquisition of 2000 ha of harvesting rights. FTI – NewGen offer a new and innovative income stream to forest owners. In return for the acquisition of harvesting rights from the forest owner, FTI offers landowners the opportunity to receive up to 30% of the forest value upfront, with the balance being paid over a maximum term of 20 years in an annuity-like, inflation linked, income stream (term of annuity is influenced by the age of the crop and the requirements of the forest owner). FORESTRY SPECIFICATION NewGen will focus initially on forests that have come to, or are close to, the end of the Government’s Forest Service Premium scheme namely plantations that are 15 years old, or more. Unlike a traditional forest sale, the owner does not have to sell the underlying land: instead NewGen will simply take over the management of the existing forestry removing all future operational

120 38

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costs, including insurance costs, managing the licensing process, attaining environmental approvals and general reporting costs that the forest owner traditionally incurs. Under the terms of the deal, NewGen will also provide a reforestation payment to replant the forest. The proposed model addresses some of the major concerns voiced by forest owners; • How do I manage my forest when I stop receiving premium payments from the Government? • How do I pay for the replanting of my forest? The attraction for private forest owners is the assurance of annual premium payments after State payments cease, rather than depending on the irregular income from thinnings and eventual clearfells. The scheme applies to productive coniferous forests over 4ha, ideally 15 years of age and over. CASE STUDY Experience of a forest owner who decided to license his harvesting rights to NewGen / FTI In 1999, Edmond O’Byrne, a dairy farmer working 38ha in Ballycappoge Co Wexford, examined his options around changing to a land use that would provide him with a good economic return and a

Irish Forestry

better lifestyle. His dairy farm, whilst profitable, had its drawbacks. Some years, grazing was confined to a six-month window as Edmond struggled to intensively farm on a wet & heavy clay soil. Although the land was unsuited to certain farming enterprises, the land was ideal for forestry, so Edmond decided to plant his farm. Edmond enjoyed the benefit of receiving a forestry premium payment each year but in 2020 these premium payments came to an end. BENEFITS OF REGULAR INCOME Whilst he had since established his own business, including part-time work with RNLI, Edmond values the certainty provided by an annual income. “An annual and steady cashflow is important, I can plan my finances and I better understand my overall financial position” says O’ Byrne. Edmond understands the value of his forest in terms of thinning yields and final harvest, but the new 20-year horizon of annual premium payments plus an upfront lump sum offered by NewGen offered Edmond several benefits over an irregular income and the headache and cost of trying to manage his forest crop. Accordingly, Edmond decided to enter a license agreement with NewGen to sell the harvesting rights to his current crop of trees. Edmond noted that: “my children are pursuing their own careers and are not attracted to working a holding of this size, but in saying that I didn’t want to sell the land should they ever wish to return”.

NewGen construct forest road in preparation for first thinning

“Under the scheme offered by NewGen, I retain ownership of the land as I am only selling the harvesting rights to the current crop of timber”. REFORESTATION PAYMENT “The scheme also makes a reforestation payment to cover the cost of replanting the site after clearfell and this removes any concerns I have about the cost and impact of replanting the site”. SUMMARY “On balance this scheme suited my requirements and in economic terms converted the future value of my forest into annual cashflow but in personal terms it removed any concerns I had about insurance, licencing, managing contractors and risk around windblow and future pricing” NEWGEN POSITION This forest fits into NewGen’s investment portfolio, according to John O’Reilly, Forest Operations Manager and Director of NewGen Forestry, “The crop is primarily Sitka Spruce and the yield class (YC) is a strong 22m3/ha/annum” he says. “The crop has undergone one thinning, so our plan is to carry out one and possibly two more thinnings before clearfell at year 35 - 38.” O’Reilly says.

39 Forestry&Energy 121

ECO LOG 1250F THE COMPLETE ALLROUNDER WITH A TRACTIVE PULLING FORCE OF 200KNM AND SMOOTH OPERATING EPSILON CRANES ITS LEADING THE WAY IN A FIELD OF MANY.

ECO LOG AND GREMO MERGE

Eco Log and Gremo, two of forestry’s most innovative brands, have strengthened their relationship and have merged to produce the most diverse range of harvesters and forwarders that has ever been produced. This range can cater for any contractor’s needs and demands. The combined experience of the two teams have created a perfect range of machines for every terrain and every forest. All machines will be branded in the Eco Log colours and name. The machine Line-up consists of no less than ﬁve forwarder models with a loading capacity from 8.5 to 20 tonnes. Forwarder Type

Load Capacity

Eco Log 750

8.5 tonnes

Eco Log 1050

10.5 tonnes

Eco Log 1250

12.5 tonnes

Eco Log 574F

14 tonnes

Eco Log 584F

16 tonnes

Eco Log 594F

20 tonnes

The already-wide range of Eco Log harvesters will be complemented with a small eight-wheeled harvester; Eco Log 1058, 16 tonnes weight.

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INFLATION BUSTING FUEL ECONOMY WITH THE ECOLOG 688F

The EcoLog 688 powered by a tier V Volvo Penta engine is the most cost efficient harvester in its class on the market. With fuel consumption of 13-14 Litres per hour in the toughest of clearfell, on steep terrain, the EcoLog 688F cannot be beaten on fuel consumption. In todays market with the rising cost of fuel, the EcoLog 688F will save you €15,000-20,000 per year in fuel costs when compared to other harvesters in this class. The innovative design further leads to increased efficiency and a reduction in running costs. The ergonomic design of the cab ensures operator comfort and ease of driving. The Log Max head is a perfect match for the EcoLog 688F, it’s simplistic and clever design results in fewer hose breakages and considerably less waste of hydraulic oil compared to competitors. Through exceptional ground-clearance, reliability, serviceability and a powerful harvester-crane you control your destiny to high productivity and a profitable total cost of ownership. Don’t burn your profits, call Liam on 086-607954 to discuss your new EcoLog today.

CALL LIAM BERGIN 086 607 9564

Climate Change

FitForests – Looking At How Ireland’s Forests Are Shaping Up To Climate Change Climate change is already having impacts on the health of the world’s forests. Healthy forests are critical to mitigate climate change. So how are Ireland’s forests shaping up? Dr.Niall Farrelly, Teagasc outlines the FitForest project that examines if the trees we use in Irish forestry are ready for climate change. CLIMATE CHANGE Changing environmental conditions associated with climate change are creating uncertainties about the suitability of the current choice of species and provenances (geographical origin of the seed) for use in Irish forestry. Climate projections include an increase in seasonal temperatures, a decrease in summer rainfall in the easterly regions, coupled with an increasing frequency of extreme rainfall, drought and winter storms events (https://www.met.ie/epa-climateprojections-2020). It is likely that climate change will increase the abiotic and biotic stresses to tree species, especially those which have limited adaptive capacity. Therefore, a new research project called Fit Forests aims to provide critical information on the adaptive capacity of key forest tree species to climate change.

fitness of the current range of broadleaved trees and seed orchards for future use and for seed production as a result of a change in climate. Finally, we aim to assess if diverse material of Douglas fir and Sitka spruce which may have undergone natural selection and adaption in warmer conditions is suitably adapted to current and future climatic conditions in Ireland

THE FITFOREST PROJECT The FitForest is a DAFM-funded project which aim to address knowledge gaps in species and provenance selection to identify those that may be more adapted to future climatic conditions. High diversity among populations that may have phenotypic plasticity and/ or adaptive potential may be better adapted to capitalize on changing environmental conditions. This adaptive capacity is commonly assessed by studying the traits of trees which convey some inherent advantage over other populations which allows them to prosper in certain environments (e.g. late bud flush or water use efficiency). The project is a collaboration between a team of researchers from Teagasc, the AgriFood and Biosciences Institute (NI), UCD, and climatologists from NUI-Maynooth. PROJECT OBJECTIVES Objectives of the project and included in four work packages (WP) as follows: • WP1 - Assess the adaptability of various species and provenances to climate change from provenance test and related data • WP2 - Conduct new experiments to assess the impact of climate parameters on the phenology and physiology of key species of importance to Irish forestry • WP3 - Assess the impact of extreme climatic events on the phenology of known tree species • WP4 - Investigate response of key species to drought events in Ireland WP1: Assess the adaptability of various species and provenances to climate change This work package will assess whether the current range of native and non-native trees have evidence of adaptation by studying species which have been established in provenance experiments or demonstration areas (Table 1). New information will be used to assess species and provenance suitability for current and future conditions (Figures 1 & 2). For broadleaved tree species (e.g. Oak) we aim to evaluate adaptive traits such as timing of flushing and flowering across a geographical range (for oak, sweet chestnut, sycamore and birch) to determine the 42

Forestry&Energy

Figure 1: A good example of a demonstration plot of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) in JFK Arboretum, Wexford showing good adaptation to site and the Irish climate

Climate Change

Type

Species

Botanic name

Provenance Expts.

Broadleaf

Peduncluate Oak

Quercus robur

Provenance expt.

Broadleaf

Sessile Oak

Quercus petraea

Provenance expt.

Broadleaf

Silver Birch

Betula pendula

Provenance expt.

Broadleaf

Beech

Fagus sylvatica

Provenance expt.

Broadleaf

Cherry

Prunus avium

Demonstration plots

Broadleaf

Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Demonstration plots

Broadleaf

Sweet chestnut

Castanea sativa

Demonstration plots

Broadleaf

Sycamore

Acer pseudoplatanus

Demonstration plots

Conifer

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Lodgepole pine

Pinus contorta

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Norway spruce

Picea abies

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Scots pine

Pinus sylvestris

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Sitka spruce

Picea sitchensis

Provenance expt.

Conifer

European silver fir

Abies alba

Demonstration plots

Conifer

Grand fir

Abies grandis

Demonstration plots

Conifer

Japanese red cedar

Cryptomeria japonica

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Monterey pine

Pinus radiata

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Western Hemlock

Tsuga heterophylla

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Western red cedar

Thuja plicata

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Coast redwood

Sequoia sempervirens

Demonstration plots

Conifer

Giant redwood

Sequoiadendron giganteum

Demonstration plots

Conifer

Pacific silver fir

Abies amabilis

Provenance expt.

Conifer

Noble fir

Abies procera

Provenance expt.

Table 1: Examples of species with provenance experiments or demonstration plantings to be assessed in the project. WP2: Assessing the impact of climate parameters on the phenology and physiology of key species of importance to Irish forestry An understanding how seedlings respond to a changing climate will be vitally important in developing adaptive strategies for sourcing appropriate forest genetic material for use in forests of the future. A diverse range of Sitka spruce seed origins which have been assembled in Ashtown Research centre in Co. Dublin in June 2021 with the aim of monitoring seedling growth phenology (timing of budburst, growth cessation, shoot elongation) in relation to current (outdoor environment) and altered temperature condition (indoor environment) (Figure 3). The data will be used to compare the phenology of the different seed origins in relation to the two environments to assess what effect if any effect of elevated temperatures on growth phenology of different seed sources.

Figure 2: Species like Japanese red cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) here in Deputy’s Pass, Co. Wicklow may have increased potential in Ireland as the climate warms.

Forestry&Energy

Climate Change

Figure 3: A Sitka spruce growth and phenology experiment at Teagasc research centre in Ashtown, Co. Dublin. A growth chamber manipulation experiment will be used to investigate the impact of changes to water availability, increased temperature and increased CO2 concentration on the growth and physiological activity of Oak, beech, Douglas fir and Sitka spruce. Measurements of phenological development and physiological activity (using measurements such as whole-plant respiration, water use, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll fluorescence) in response to the altered environmental parameters will be conducted. Physiological measurements will be taken to assess if differences in chlorophyll fluorescence or photosynthetic activity are detected owing to the different treatments. WP3: Assess the impact of extreme climatic events on the phenology of known tree species In conjunction with Maynooth University, scientists are investigating the likely phenological response (e.g. bud burst, leaf unfolding, and growing season) of selected tree species to temperature and temperature extremes using climate data from the Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF) data centre (WCRP CORDEX, 2020). Analysis of bud burst for three different climate change scenarios is in the process of being evaluated using data from the Phonological Network covering 50 years of assessment across hundreds of sites in Europe for Norway spruce, Oak, Larch, Ash and Beech. For Sitka spruce, flushing data has been collected for 7 consecutive years in Ireland and suggest inter annual

Figure 4: Flushing data in Ireland is being used to assess the impact of warmer temperatures on bud burst. 44

Forestry&Energy

variability in flushing in greater than variability between sites (Figure 4). Outputs of this WP will include maps displaying the change in days of budburst for Ireland for different climate scenarios. Research to assess the future suitability of species under an altered climate using a bio/geo-climatic modelling software called ClimexTM, which uses data based on biological parameters of the species concerned, along with climatic information to infer how suitability might change over time and space for regions of interest. Locations of climatic suitability are identified by modelling the mechanisms that impact species growth via climatic variables and soil moisture, while simultaneously incorporating a measure of stressors such as heat, cold or dry stress experienced. WP4: Investigate response of key species to drought events in Ireland To assess the response of key species to drought events we have chosen to examine Sitka spruce forests to understand if Sitka spruce planted on gleyed soils, subject to shallow rooting, can be subjected to localise drought conditions. Four sites have been chosen for the study, JFK arboretum, Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon. To characterise drought conditions at each site a Standardised Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) has been derived from daily precipitation, temperature data from local meteorological stations. The analysis has indicated that drought events are site specific with spatial and temporal variations in the onset, frequency, intensities and durations of droughts at different sites. For example at Frenchpark, drought intensity showed an increasing trend. 2003 and 2018 were identified as severe drought years. For JFK, Drought intensity shows a decreasing trend. 1969, 1971 and 1990 were identified as severe drought years with 1975 was identified as an extreme drought year with the longest drought events lasted for 50 months (November 1969 –December 1973). At each of the study sites stem coring and/or tree discs have been collected for detailed dendrochronogical analysis to assess annual ring development (earlywood and latewood, density, etc.) using the WindendroTM tree ring analysis system. Potential also exists to study carbon and oxygen isotope analysis will be used to investigate the relative contribution of water stress versus high temperatures to known drought events and investigate if differences between Douglas fir and Sitka spruce and their response to drought events exists using data from JFK Park.

Paul Vidgen Forest Machines Ltd

Forest Keep, Watersplash Lane, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7QP Tel: 01344 873499 Email: info@pvfm.co.uk Web: www.pvfm.co.uk

Forestry&Energy

Climate Change

Figure 5: Felling and taking discs from sample Sitka spruce for tree ring analysis to study if drought conditions can be detected. CONCLUSION This research is a key recommendation of the COFORD forest genetic resources working group (FGRWG) to inform the Sustainable Development and Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources in Ireland from 2020-2030. As forests are an important part of the Irish government’s climate action plan, it is important that future forests are adapted to future conditions so that they can continue to provide economic and social benefits. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Fit Forests Project is a collaboration between academic researchers from Teagasc, Agri-Food and Biosciences institute, UCD forestry

Forestry&Energy

and NUI-Maynooth. The research is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) under grant number 2019R511. Thanks to Dr. Richard Walsh, Forestry Division, DAFM, Coillte and the Forest Genetic Resources Trust for assistance with the study. Authors: Niall Farrelly, Oliver Sheridan, Hui Xing - Teagasc, Forestry Development Department Brian Tobin, UCD forestry, University College Dublin Rodrigo Olave – Agri-Environment Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Rowan Fealy, Catriona Duffy – ICARUS, Maynooth University

BROPHY TIMBER SERVICES

Forestry Services Site Clearance (excavators 5T – 24T, tractor & dump trailer) Standing Timber Purchasing and Marketing of both broad leaves and softwoods General Haulage and Timber Haulage Weekly Reports & Machine Printouts available on request Public Liability Insurance

Mechanical Engineering Services Engineering services in our in-house facilities Stockists of Alfagomma Hydraulic hoses and fittings

Contact Office: +353(0) 870640161

Harvesting & Extraction: +353(0) 872236454 Email: bts@live.ie

Website: www.brophytimberservices.ie

Commercial Commercial Feature Feature

Robinson Distribution Ltd

Established in Portarlington, Ireland in 2004, Robinson Distribution Ltd. has continuously expanded and developed into a market leading trailer and crane manufacturer, supplying an ever growing customer base in the transport and forestry sector across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. Our Customer Mission The company now boasts an ever increasing customer base across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Our goal is to support our customers in their goal of purchasing trailers and equipment that will provide a strong return on investment and augment the success of their business.

Trailers & Cranes

Background Robinson is an ambitious family owned and managed business with a long and proud history of transport, agri–products and forest machinery. Throughout its history, Robinson’s has been an innovative company with continuous research and development being at the core of the business. Our track record of trailer and crane design and manufacture provides us with a strong competitive advantage in terms of new product development. All our trailers and cranes are designed and customised by our team of experienced engineers. Each product is manufactured to meet the specific needs of the operator which is backed up by our strict quality procedures. Our attention to detail enables us to build a product that will simply outlast others with superior strength and durability. Our success has been built on an ethos of serving our customers with quality transport solutions, efficiency, and reliability and also by ensuring there is a complete focus on customer satisfaction at the core of everything we do.

“Our state of the art production plant is one of the most modern trailer manufacturing facilities in Ireland”

Robinson manufactures a wide range of trailers and cranes, all designed to meet the specific needs of our customers, with specifications across three main categories including; On Road Trailers: Bulk Tipper Trailers, Platform Trailers, Container Trailers Timber Trailers: Centre Axle Drawbar Trailers, Semi– Trailers, Super Structures, Turntable Trailers Cranes: The company also supplies, custom manufactures and fits cranes, including brands such as Robinson, Loglift, Kesla, Liv. Our new timber cranes are now operating out in the Irish forestry industry with very positive feedback from our customers. We manufacture two models of crane to choose from, a 9 tonne and a 12 tonne. These both come in a single and double extension model. Our cranes have the highest quality finish with investments in our own forms for castings in Scandinavia, Swedish Steel, Parker Hydraulics, Indexator Rotators and Links, Tamtron and Maxi Cap Weighting Systems and high power LED working lights. The high standard of finish extends to the main components as they are blasted, primed and painted which presents a huge advantage over competing products. Robinson also supply their own grapple with its crane. This is a Robinson 42 Grapple which has a gripping area of 0.42m2. Robinson’s also manufacture their own Robinson One Piece Timber Bunk. These are made of specialised Swedish Steel. Due to the weight and price of the Robinson Bunks, they can now compete aggressively in the market place, making them very popular with customers.

Facilities & Competencies

With ongoing investment, research and development; the company has continuously developed a modern manufacturing facility designed to manage the expectations of today’s transport sector. Our state of the art production plant is one of the most modern trailer manufacturing facilities in Ireland. As a business we continuously innovate by applying cutting edge design aligned to the specific and changing requirements of each trailer’s function with the aim of saving fuel, maximising payloads, increasing manoeuvrability and flexibility, improving safety whilst ensuring we comply with all legal regulations Our focus is on building the highest quality trailers to the highest manufacturing standards. We achieve this through a combination of: Engineering & Design Excellence, Advanced Technology, A Wealth of Experience

For a discussion about your needs and how Robinson would be pleased to assist you, please call us today on Tel: 057 86 24832 or email scott@robinsondistribution.ie You can visit our website on www.robinsondistribution.ie

48 58

Forestry&Energy Forestry&Energy

UCD

Short Rotation Forestry

The interface between agricultural production and conventional forestry

Figure 1: One of the Eucalyptus nitens plots at the Johnstown castle field trial in 2017.

WHAT IS SHORT ROTATION FORESTRY? The growth of short rotation woody crops for fibre and energy uses has a long tradition. The current concept of close-spaced, fast growing (1 to 15-year rotations) silviculture evolved scientifically via tree breeding programs in the early 20th century. While short rotation coppice is a system based on cutting back trees to a stool to produce multiple stem regrowth, which is typically harvested on rotations of 2 to 4 years (e.g. willow and poplar systems), short rotation forestry (SRF) is a form of forest management designed to maximise woody biomass production on single stems over rotation lengths much shorter than the 40+ years of conventional forestry. The aim is to harness the high productivity rates of young plantations but with a higher wood-to-bark ratio than coppiced material. Plantations are harvested when annual growth rates no longer exceed mean annual increment. Demand for wood biomass is increasing globally as concerns about the environmental impacts of fossil fuel use and of carbon-intensive, non-renewable materials continue growing. SRF has the potential to contribute to meeting this global demand for wood biomass while helping to reduce pressure on natural forests and providing an alternative income for rural communities. Demand for wood biomass for energy is increasingly seen as another market competing with other existing forest products as global efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions intensify. An increase in the use of wood biomass to meet renewable energy targets is expected and this will increase the competition between assortments used for wood fuel and fibre, thus an increase in the price of these assortments. SRF also has the potential to produce cross laminated timber products, contributing to such markets routinely in Brazil and Australia. As a highly productive system, it is often combined with biosolid and waste water management or in decontamination of flood plains. Such ecosystem services can contribute to the fertility requirement of sustained high yield 50

Forestry&Energy

production, providing further drivers for a business model centred on the production of biomass feedstock. IRISH EXPERIENCE The objective of the Irish “Forestry for Fibre” scheme is to address a forecasted shortfall in the supply of fibre for the energy and wood products sectors by incentivising the establishment of Italian alder, hybrid aspen, poplar, and eucalyptus plantations. To date there has been little take-up. ShortFor (2013 to 2018) was a recent research project funded by DAFM to examine the potential for SRF in Ireland. In addition to reviewing candidate species the project evaluated likely establishment practice and silviculture specifically suited to SRF. The project also set up field trials to assess the impact of stocking density on growth and yield. Further work also assessed the quality and calorific value of biomass produced by key species and the sustainability of suitable management / production systems. KEY SPECIES AND CHARACTERISTICS The main species of particular interest for SRF in Ireland which ShortFor examined were Sitka spruce, Italian alder and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus nitens). Leslie et al. (2012) recommended that the eucalyptus species most suitable for Irish conditions are E. nitens, E. globulus, E. delagatensis E. muelleri and E. urnigera. The project also suggested potential from Notofagus spp., hybrid aspen and poplar cultivars, coastal redwood, sweet chestnut, paulonia, birch and sycamore. ShortFor established three field trials to examine species growth across varying site types and at a range of planting densities (Table 1). Baseline measurements were taken of height, diameter and survival after year 1. In the future these trials should provide extremely useful data to assess productivity and how this is affected by planting density.

UCD

Field trial site Johnstown Castle (2014) Brownswood, Portlaw, Co. Waterford (2015)

Mountain West, Oranmore, Co. Galway (2016)

Species Sitka spruce (Washington provenance) Eucalyptus nitens Italian alder Sitka spruce (Oregon provenance) Grand fir Eucalyptus nitens Italian alder Sitka spruce (Oregon provenance) Coastal redwood Eucalyptus nitens Eucalyptus rodwayi Italian alder

Table 1: ShortFor established three species growth trials. (Planting date in brackets) An online database was developed detailing the wood fuel characteristics of many Irish-grown tree species. The database includes values for moisture content, basic density, ash, ash melting behavior, calorific value, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, chlorine, sulphur, oxygen, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and zinc. The species currently represented in this database are alder, ash, birch, lodgepole pine, Norway spruce, Sitka spruce, hybrid poplars, Eucalyptus delegatensis and Eucalyptus nitens. For each species, data are presented separately for the stem, wood, top, bark, branch, and foliage. The database can be accessed at www.forestenergy.ie. Eucalyptus stands had higher basic density than poplar (De Miguel Muñoz, 2020), an average of 412 kg m-3 compared to 297 kg m-3, and were also higher than conventionally grown Sitka spruce (364 kg m-3). Fibre and energy markets prefer higher density wood, due to the impact of basic density on the volume weight relationship and on energy

content. Therefore, denser species like eucalyptus are preferred by fibre and energy markets. PRODUCTION POTENTIAL Site quality and management practice largely determine mean productivity, but the product size and rotation length needed to attain the site carrying capacity is largely governed by planting density. Biomass productivity from eucalyptus plantations appear likely to produce up to 180 t oven-dry biomass (odb) in rotations of up to 22 years, having been established at a density of 2,500 stems ha-1. Foreman (2019) modelled the productivity of a series of species at varying establishment densities and estimated that rotation length was substantially shorter for E. nitens than for Italian alder or Sitka spruce and the estimated stand volume and biomass yield were greater, regardless of planting density. The model predicted that a stocking of c. 3,900 stems ha‐1 (c. 1.5 × 1.5 m) would maximise biomass yield of E. nitens, producing an estimated above‐ground biomass of 150 t ha‐1 (670 m3 ha‐1) at 15 years before production would plateau and start to decline. Recently used planting densities for E. nitens have been c. 1,800 ‐ 2,000 stems ha‐1, but this was based on scant data (Thompson et al., 2012), and rotations of just over 20 years are required. The results of this study indicate that a higher density would be preferable to maximise production over a shorter rotation period. The Foreman study found that Sitka spruce was most likely not suited to rotations as short as 15 to 20 years as it would involve harvesting before it achieved its greatest biomass production potential. The results from the study clearly show that this species would not be suitable for biomass production at rotations of less than 30 - 35 years (happily confirming conventional forestry practice!). The modelling results indicated that a higher stocking level than is currently used in practice is likely to increase biomass yield in E. nitens. If a 15‐year rotation length was selected, the growth model indicated that planting density should be increased (to c. 3,900 stems ha‐1 (1.6×1.6 m) from the currently recommended 2,500 stems ha‐1 (2×2 m).

Figure 2: This image illustrates the potential increase in biomass available from a highly productive 18-year-old E. nitens stand compared with a Sitka stand a year older. The E. nitens was ~23 m tall, whereas the spruce was ~12 m tall (Thompson, 2012).

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UCD ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT The ShortFor LCA study examined the GHG emissions mitigation potential of using SRF biomass and conventional forest harvest residues to displace the use of milled-peat at the Edenderry Power Ltd. Plant in Co Laois. When assessing the Irish options for meeting its overall electrical energy demands and maintaining a nominal level of energy security, while simultaneously partially fulfilling its renewable energy and climate change mitigation related commitments, only one of the tested scenarios addressed all four issues. That scenario was the complete displacement of milled-peat as fuel at the plant by SRF produce or forestry biomass residue. Currently Edenderry is the only power generation plant equipped for co-firing with biomass, and with the potential for exclusive biomass combustion. It was found that SRF afforestation could increase organic carbon release from soil. As E. rodwayi had the lowest organic carbon release concentration, it could be considered for more sensitive catchments (such as peatlands) where high organic carbon release is a concern. SRF tree species (E. nitens, Italian alder, E. rodwayi) had higher P-uptake efficiencies than spruce and lodgepole pine. Replacement of the latter by SRF tree species could significantly reduce P-release from soil to water bodies. This makes SRF tree species suitable for P-sensitive catchments. It also indicated that SRF might also be used strategically for remediating biowaste and for watershed management, of course while also implementing suitable buffer zones in riparian circumstances. The relative GHG-performance of SRF systems depends on the nature of the harvesting (degree of soil damage) and the components harvested. It looks likely that stump or root harvesting would significantly affect the sustainability of continuous short rotations, as would the harvest of foliar components. As a result it is recommended to harvest debarked stems for biomass use in the UK to ensure sustainable productivity. KEY OPPORTUNITY? AS A TARGETED COMPLIMENT TO CONVENTIONAL FORESTRY The reasons SRF is not more widespread to date have been primarily economic! Land prices in productive farming areas are high. The cost difference between fossil fuels and renewable resources such as woody biomass needs to be substantial before it makes economic sense to manage SRF. In addition, there has been considerable skepticism among the public and landowners in relation to other biomass generation schemes (e.g. the miscanthus debacle). However, political and popular opinion may well swing in favour of SRF soon because of

the continued requirement for renewable carbon-neutral fuels and fiber sources. In addition, there is also a growing realization (across Europe in particular) of the national value of greater energy and resource independence. However, in a survey of market stakeholders in Ireland and Oregon, De Miguel Muñoz et al. (2016) found that other more profitable markets can develop for using SRF and will compete with fibre and energy end-users. Indeed, financial analysis carried out by the same group found that the best economic outcome for growers resulted from the production of a mix of products including pallet wood with the fiber and energy products. De Miguel Muñoz (2020) also noted a classic chicken-and-egg circumstance; that SRF markets can only be developed if a minimum supply is guaranteed, but establishment of SRF can only be promoted if markets are assured! So, the study concluded that long-term agreements between landowners and end-users would be needed so both sides could reduce investment risks. The study also concluded that formation of associations of small growers would also satisfy the preference of industry for not engaging with individual private forest owners. One of the key recommendations from the ShortFor study was that SRF holds considerable potential for productive and economic returns for growers and the energy industry, however the requirements for suitable site types and proximal locations to end-use markets, makes this specialised system suitable for targeted deployment to compliment market infrastructure and existing conventional forest resources. Further research into yield models for eucalyptus’ and other suitable species’ growth in Ireland would facilitate quantification of biomass over time, and provide a basic tool for forest planning and resource optimization. Authors: Brian Tobin, Susie Foreman, Conor O’Reilly – UCD Forestry, University College Dublin Niall Farrelly, Ian Short – Teagasc Ken Byrne, Mike Clancy – University of Limerick Liwen Xiao, Mark O’Connor – Trinity College Dublin Tom Kent, Ana de Miguel Muñoz, Enda Coates, Brian Cronin - South East Technological University, Waterford

Figure 3: An example of an upper-stem log from a 21-year old Eucalyptus delegatensis stand grown at Kilbora, Co. Wexford.

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25/01/2022 12:34

Forestry

The Northeast Forestry Group Promoting Locally Grown Timber For Local End Use The Northeast Forestry Group (NEFG) is a Forest Owner Group with over 90 members from counties Meath/Louth/Cavan/Monaghan. Kevin O’Connell of Teagasc reports on their progress.

t was formed in 2013 with the aim of promoting peer learning between likeminded private forest owners. It is a very progressive group, and runs field days and courses each year for its members, including chainsaw training, timber measurement, timber valuation and Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). It has participated in 3 knowledge transfer courses supported by the Dept. Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) Forestry Division. The group has also successfully completed a pilot scheme initiated by DAFM to examine private forestry owner Forest Certification. As a result of this scheme, 12 group members have achieved Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification for their forests. They are the only forestry group with members holding Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) group certification in the country. Four group members have won the prestigious Royal Dublin Society (RDS) awards for the management of their forests. The NEFG works in cooperation with other groups and entities. It has worked closely with Teagasc Forestry Development Department, since its inception, holding field days, information evenings and management courses. It has hosted events in conjunction with other forestry groups, Westmeath Farm Forestry Owners Group. Some group members are involved with other forestry and forestry related initiatives sharing their findings and information with the other owners. These initiatives include: Prosilva Ireland, Limerick and Tipperary Forest Owner group (Small Diameter Hardwood Scheme), Timber Marketing Course Witney Sawmills (UK), The British Soil Association. Close ties have also been forged with other forestry associations/organisations such as The Irish Forest Owners (IFO), the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and the Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA). A number of NEFG members are also members of these associations/organisations

holding positions of responsibility. WOODLAND TO WORKSHOP PROJECT In 20021 the NEFG where successful in their application for funding to DAFM under the Woodland Support Project 2001/2022. This project aims to encourage farmers and other landowners to plant and to raise the profile of forestry as a public good and a commercially viable enterprise. DAFM provides funding for projects which support and highlight forestry under the four following themes: 1) Support and highlight the environmental benefits of woodlands. 2) Support and highlight the benefits of woodlands, focussing on farmers, and/or community engagement and/or general wellness 3) Support and highlight productive forestry and timber products, in the context of climate action and the bioeconomy. 4) Support and highlight sustainable forest management among forest owners (targeted at organisations already active in this area with established programmes in operation). Derek McCabe, NEFG chairperson stated “Our members grow both broadleaf and conifer trees. In the main the Sitka spruce looks after itself, in that it is usually sold to the larger sawmills. Although that said it still has to be well managed if owners want to get the best price. It is the other conifers and broadleaves we are looking at in order to get the added value. We intend to achieve this by good forest management and providing a sustainable quality product to local end users” The Woodland to Workshop project aims to connect local forest owners directly with local markets for their timber resources by: • Developing a group timber inventory to help in identifying available timber resource in suitable quality/volumes to maximise income for private forest owners.

NEFG members, DAFM & Teagasc representatives, pupils & teacher from Trim vocational school and local craft man 54

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E: info@lcpackaging.ie

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Forestry • •

Marketing the available timber resource. Promoting the use of timber in bespoke building/leisure activity construction. Promoting the use of local produced timber in secondary school timber technology classes. Produce a timber marketing video to help both growers and users realise the availability of raw material and potential customers. The video will show completed and current building projects, along with the methodology of converting round logs to useable sawn timber. Contributing towards a local low impact bioeconomy, developing a market for environmentally and socially sustainable timber products Produce a video of the journey through the project to demonstrate to other Forestry Owner Groups of how to maximise value for their timber and support the local economy.

• •

To achieve these aims a number of actions were determined: • Training courses in timber measurement, forest inventory and hardwood and softwood timber quality assessment. • Completion of a questionnaire. • Identifying the needs of timber buyers in terms of quality, quantity, and price, by visiting and examining a number of current and completed projects. • Information day hosted by Atlantic Technological University, Letterfrack to introduce participants to various use of different timbers and how value can be added to them. • A workshop on timber frame construction. • Create a community awareness by sponsoring 4 schools, Trim Vocational School, Teagasc Ballyhaise College, St Bricins College,

Marteloscope 56

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Belturbet and Bailieborough Community School with locally sourced timber for their woodwork classes. • Produce a video to capture the story from start to finish for distribution to other forest owners. The Woodland to Workshop project was launched on 27th October 2021 at the Trim Adventure Centre. This Adventure Centre was built by a local craftsman using locally sourced NEFG timber. This was an ideal location as it demonstrated the link of local craft timber users and local schools with NEFG members. MARTELOSCOPE TRAINING On 22nd March 15 NEFG members travelled to Teagasc Oakpark to take part in a one-day training course using both a broadleaf and conifer Marteloscope. This course was developed by Jonathan Spazzi, Teagasc Development Officer to encourage participants to explore and improve awareness of their woodland. It allows them to conduct practical exercises, practice selection skills on trees and to measure, learn and share results with their peer group. A marteloscope is a specially prepared forest plot ranging from 0.4ha to 1.0ha in size. It is an outdoor forest classroom for training participants in tree selection and tree marking. In each marteloscope plot, every tree is numbered, measured and its timber and biodiversity values estimated. All the information is then inputted into the tabletbased software. It was a highly informative day, creating a lot of discussion and positive feedback from the participants. One participant Martin Oakes said “It makes you think, I am going to look at my woodland in a new light, not only for improving my trees but also improving the biodiversity! Now that I know what I have to do, I am looking forward to marking my own trees”

Forestry

Members in Letterfrack INFORMATION DAY AT ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY Participants took part in an Information Day at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Letterfrack Campus, Co Galway, hosted by Sean Garvey. This module was highly informative as it gave members a chance to see how Irish grown timber can be used in high end use products and furniture. They saw how different species of timber have different characteristics in both colour and texture. There was also a demonstration of round logs being converted to planks and a brief explanation on grading and identifying flaws which would downgrade the quality and thus saleability and price. The group were also shown the new timber drying Kiln and how careful drying can increase both quality and price of timber. TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP A highly informative one day timber frame construction workshop was held in in Sherlogs Timber yard in Navan on 9th July. The training on the day was provided by James Thomson, Thomson Timber, Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland. James runs a sawmill, makes custom furniture, post and beam timber frames and delivers courses in these skills. The course covered, identifying potential customers for forestry owners’ timbers. Explaining the conversion process from log to specific timber frame components. An overview of how to use Sketch-up, a design tool and demonstrating the cutting of mortice and tenon joints. To do this and to explain the need for specific cuts of timber, logs were converted using static and mobile sawmills owned by group members on the day. Roland Flower from Saw Doctor – Logosol was there to provide his expertise and oversee the operation. One group member Stephen Clarke, with help from his son Stephan had started his own timber frame construction, a Covid lockdown project. He used larch from his own forest and got them planked by 58

Forestry&Energy

James Thompson & group members another group member John Sherlock and is well on his way in building a fine retreat for himself. Stephen said “I was always interested in using my hands to make something and the idea struck me during lockdown, why not make a small cabin? I have the time, I have the timber and I have the perfect location in my own forest, so why not? It will be a great place for the family to enjoy” LAWDERDALE FURNITURE On 22nd July, group members visited Lawderdale Furniture, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim. This is a family run business run by Eltjo, Marion and Waldo Van Der Laan, specialising in making bespoke furniture from locally sourced timber. Eltjo took the group through

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Forestry

Stephen and Stephan the processes involved in selecting, converting, stacking, drying and finishing round logs to create valuable high-end furniture. This was a very interesting and informative day. Members were able to hear exactly what end users were looking for when buying timber and the prices that could be relised if the trees were of the right quality. Emphasis on good tree management to achieve this quality was the take home message of the day. TEAGASC BALLYHAISE COLLEGE In October participants will visit Teagasc Ballyhaise College, Co Cavan. Included on the day will be a short course in volume assessment of felled and standing timber, demonstration of correct felling techniques to avoid damage to the trees, assessing trees for faults e.g. shake, compression/tension grain, live/dead knots etc. There will also be an opportunity to look at different tree species, their silvicultural characteristics, and their end uses and to make owners aware of their potential value.

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SUMMARY John Sherlock, Vice-chairperson of the NEFG summed up the project” The Woodland to Workshop Project has been received very well by NEFG and all the other participating parties involved. There is clearly an enthusiasm among group members to find commercial uses for their timber. The end users supplied with locally produced timber are actually surprised by its character and quality. The NEFG has also reached out to other forest owner groups through the newly formed Irish Forest Owners. The interest shown by local craft timber users is also very encouraging and approval of the Design and Craft Council of Ireland would be a tremendous asset to achieve market penetration for the project. The input of local educational facilities is vital as hopefully they will continue to use local timber demonstrating to future end users that a local sustainable timber supply is on their doorstep.”

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Oakleaf

Fast Forward To The Future With The Vimek Next Generation 870.1 Forwarder As part of their Next Generation Project, Vimek has launched their first ever eightwheeled forwarding machine.

imek have previously mainly focused on building smaller machines for selfemployed forest owners. The smaller machines have not suited contractors who need to work at a high pace with high levels of production. Now, Vimek hope that the latest and greatest; NG 870.1 will be a machine that succeeds in arousing the entrepreneurs’ interest. ‘The contractors want to maintain a high production during their driving, while the landowner wants as little damage as possible after the end of the driving. Forest owners may not want a 15-tonne machine in their forest during a first thinning. That is why we have chosen to develop our new forwarder Next Generation’, says Johan Johansson, a sales manager at Vimek in Vindeln. Vimek recently exhibited the new and improved forwarder at the world’s largest forestry fair; ElmiaWood which occurred for the first time since 2017 so evidently there was no better time or place to demonstrate. With a vast demonstration zone, Vimek were able to show off the unique capabilities of the NG 870.1 to its full potential and attract crowds to observe the extensive showcase. Joe Litter from Oakleaf Forestry visited the demonstration site and commented on the day from ElmiaWood saying, ‘It’s been super busy. All day people have been coming to see the new machine. It’s bigger than Vimek’s previous 62

Forestry&Energy

Oakleaf offerings... it’s been really well received.’ Featuring a brand new Cranab crane with a reach of 6.7 metres and intelligent boom control specifically designed for this forwarder. These added features allow users to have enhanced control and lead to higher levels of efficiency and precision. It is powered by a 75hp, turbocharged Caterpillar engine and Bosch Rexroyh transmission. An optimized design means that the machine can tackle terrain with ease and has a low power-loss system. Smart control programs help achieve durable and fast work despite a relatively small 55Kw engine. The forwarder has been carefully researched and developed over a couple of years, where the development of comfort, load index, new technology, and accessibility in various stocks has received the most attention. A smaller forwarder which is now able to take part in the technology of the larger machines. The Next Generation has a load index of 1: 1, which means that it loads as much as it weighs, (seven tons empty weight with seven tons load weight). The unique steering bogie and its 7.5 tonne carrying capacity maintains a tight turning radius. Featuring a more spacious cab than Vimek’s previous machines with sound proofing, and LED lights around the outside for better visibility, enabling a pleasant driving experience for the user. Vimek has chosen to drive with 8 wheels with four bogies to increase driver comfort. The two rear bogie pairs have been moved further back on the bed to avoid overhangs when loading long timber. If the wheel pair is moved further back, the compliance will be worse, therefore it has also been equipped with bogie steering which steers nine degrees automatically or manually to get better compliance in the stocks and be able to make the slip roads narrower.

The width of the forwarder is between 195-225 centimeters depending on the choice of wheel. All of these features would be anticipated in a larger machine, but Vimek has made them available in a more compact package. Get in touch for more information on this machine plus many more new and used forestry machines at +44 28 3833 0011 or email us at info@ oakleafforestry.com.

Forestry&Energy

Oakleaf

Kesla’s 2209ST Truck Crane Brand new for 2022; the 9-ton metre Kesla 2209ST.

ABOUT THE BRAND Kesla’s cranes, trailers, harvester heads, and biomass chippers were an early addition to Oakleaf Forestry’s product portfolio and were welcomed with open arms, given the Finnish manufacturer’s reputation for well-made, well-supported goods. The family-owned company; Kesla states, ‘Our innovative, highquality products – made in Finland with decades of experience and customer understanding – meet the most demanding needs, in and outside the forest. Whatever your talent and platform, Kesla is the perfect match with our durable, user-friendly products that adapt to your exact requirements.’ UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS Kesla’s 9 tonne metre straight boom crane; 2209St is built specifically to withstand adverse weather conditions such as the extreme weather conditions in Russia. Weather warnings will not halt work with this 64

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crane due to the use of extremely robust hosing designed particularly for arctic conditions. A variety of different outreaches are available to suit customer needs. The crane now has a number of extra features requested by Kesla customers, such as in-boom hydraulic hosing. In the new 22-series KESLA cranes the hosing is placed inside the booms, also in the transfer boom minimising the risk of hose damage. Durable JIC connections, as well as hydraulic pipes and hoses, are adequately protected in the hydraulic system. KesLINK, an invention of Kesla, safeguards the hoses going to the grapple. Extensive hydraulic lines custom-designed for these 22 series cranes allow for quick and smooth movement. The 2209St is available with a dependable single, double, or LS Parker hydraulic circuit. With four cylinders, the crane’s slewing mechanism is stronger than before. It features highly robust pipes in the slewing system with a welded stabilised foundation of high quality. KESLA-cranes can be

Oakleaf

equipped with many types of stabilizers - integrated, separate, extra wide, chipper-use or stationery-use but the variety depends on the model. THE STEEL USED The inner and outer boom joints have a strong fork attachment and have been constructed from a high-quality steel (Strenx 700 MC+). Strenx® 700MC Plus is a high-strength structural steel with advanced cold formability and impact toughness for highly demanding applications. Strenx® 700MC Plus meets or exceeds the requirements of S700MC in EN 10149-2. It is typically used in highly demanding applications that require superior bendability, high impact toughness in cold conditions and the ability to cut mechanically. Material is the same in the other KESLA truck cranes - Strenx MC 700+ high quality steel which is surface-treated with nanoceramic KESLA proTECT handling. The crane is finished in corrosion-resistant, double-layer powder coating (RAL9005) for great durability while still appearing elegant.

THE CAB The crane may be outfitted with a KESLA Vision Standard cabin, which is light, corrosion-free, and provides pleasant conditions with plenty of legroom. The cabin can be furnished with a Planar 2D diesel heater that is likewise appropriate for hard conditions, as well as an LED bar for better vision in the dark. The heated seats guarantee a comfortable driving experience, and weather hoods or canopies are available on request, making this crane ideal for a versatile range of weather situations. READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? Are you ready to upgrade to the latest and greatest crane for 2022 or to start your forestry journey with Kesla? Get in touch today via email at info@oakleafforestry.com or give us a call on 028 3833 0011 to become a proud member of the Kesla Squad. The Kesla 2209st cranes are available now with excellent installation and backup services for immediate collection from Oakleaf Forestry’s Portadown branch, or for delivery across the UK and Ireland.

Forestry&Energy

Carbon

Offshoring Our Carbon Footprint By Brendan Fitzsimons CEO Tree Council of Ireland

he Irish National afforestation programme has almost totally collapsed, and the figures for the spring planting in 2022 represent an 80-year low in a country with the lowest forest cover in the EU. The cause of the collapse of afforestation during the past decade is almost entirely due to regulations introduced by the Forest Service. The reason? – incoherent regulation. What we have witnessed in Ireland over the past 15 years is the destruction of a sustainable, vibrant indigenous rural industry and the elimination of a major pillar of Ireland’s climate change strategy. To make matters worse, there seems to be little will at either the political or administrative level to make decisions that will actually improve the situation. It is not just afforestation that is affected by the regulatory mess. The forest industry was being starved of harvested timber and was importing supplies from Scotland to keep the sawmills open and to maintain an estimated 15,000 rural jobs in associated activities. An industry initiative was launched to try and convince the political system that there was a crisis in the industry. In response, in October of last year the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) appointed Philip Lee LLP to carry out an “independent” regulatory review of the Irish Forestry regime. The result was ‘Project Woodland: Regulatory Review Report’ which was published at the end of June 2022. As Minister Hackett said at the launch “The report outlines changes in environmental law, which have resulted in the increasingly complex regulatory framework that has ultimately led to delays in the issuing of forestry licences in recent years. This independent report was necessary to assess the extent to which forestry in Ireland is being appropriately regulated, and also whether any improvements can be made to the licensing system, while working within the parameters of Irish and EU environmental law.” The key phrase here is “while working withing the parameters of Irish and EU environmental law”. This is critical - because one of the key causes of the current crisis is the Irish laws which have been enacted in support of the EU legislation. Our local legislation giving effect to EU law, has had the perverse effect of preventing afforestation in the least forested country in the EU - at the very instant when climate change is recognised by the EU as an existential threat. The large number of recommendations in the published report appear to suggest a pivot to practicality, and an earnest desire to find solutions. But, by my estimate, 25 of the 28 recommendations would actually make the situation worse – not to mention the huge delay inherent in DAFM trying to appraise those recommendations. New “working” groups will need to be commissioned to evaluate the recommendations, resulting in further delay. In summary, the recommendations call for a large body of work that should have been done before the forest-prevention regulations were implemented - to be done now! It appears that before the regulations were introduced, there was absolutely no assessment made of the impact the new regulations would have on • Ireland’s National Carbon emission obligations • the consequences for the Irish forest industry • the resources required by either the DAFM or those in the forestry sector to deal with the new regulations The report makes for grim reading, except perhaps to those who commissioned it after a decade of regulatory mismanagement. As Donal Magner pointed out in a recent article in the Farmer’s Journal that despite last year’s findings by the IFA and the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) that thinning licences are not required in Sweden, Germany, France, Finland, Portugal, Denmark and Lithuania, the report recommends non-exemption for thinning licences. It also supports the continuation of the 15km “permission” zone for the planting of even a tiny 10 metre squared plot

Forestry&Energy

of native woodland, using an entirely unconvincing rationale. Teige Ryan, of the Social, Environment and Economic Association (SEEFA), questioned the report’s research into forestry procedures in other EU member states. “An independent review of the regulatory system offered the perfect opportunity to bring the Irish forestry licensing system in line with other licensing authorities that comply with the same EU directives,” he said. “The final report shows little signs however of any change, and many of the rules which don’t exist in other EU member states will remain in place in Ireland regardless of most of the recommendations.” Mark McAuley, Forest Industries Ireland (FII), maintained that changing the current system “could yield significant gains in terms of advance licensing of a series of activities and remove the need for individual licences for each forest management activity over the lifetime of the forest.” In short, this “independent” review retrospectively justifies the creation of a regulatory regime which has both crippled the forest industry and virtually eliminated the national afforestation programme , at exactly the moment when Ireland’s climate change commitments need it to ramp up sharply. In a country with the lowest forest cover in the EU, this report, de facto, suggests that that there is nothing we can do to improve the situation. Afforestation is at the lowest level since 1947 and the Regularity Authorities have, in effect, created a situation that actually prohibits any improvement. The ”green” plan appears to be that in future, we’ll import our construction materials and other requirements for wood and wood products from across the globe while we leave our own considerable carbon capture possibilities unused.

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