Coillte is Ireland’s largest and most experienced integrated Forestry Company. We are involved in all aspects of timber production from the sourcing of seed, the production of quality nursery stock, planting, maintenance, harvesting and marketing. Our subsidiary company Smartply Europe limited is the largest processor of pulpwood in the country. As the largest landowners on the island of Ireland, we have a presence in every parish offering employment locally, where other traditional jobs are diminishing.
IS MY LAND SUITABLE FOR TREES? Not all sites are suitable for planting. The land to be planted must
• be in agricultural use prior to planting,
• not be part of an existing or proposed NHA (Natural Heritage Area) or an SAC (Special Area of Conservation), or an SPA (Special Protection Area),
• conform to Forest Service environmental and planning guidelines (See Planning and Environmental issues),
• have soil suitable for growing trees, in particular the pH or lime level can restrict the species which may be planted or render the area unsuitable for planting. This is common in midland areas and generally means that a Forest Soils Test will be required.…
Ground Cultivation Methods The most important reason for cultivating ground prior to planting is to provide a suitable planting medium for the trees. Soil-type, slope and drainage conditions will dictate the most suitable method of cultivation.
Good quality planting stock is critical to the successful establishment of your future plantation. For this reason you should always check your plants to ensure that they conform to your requirements and to a high quality standard..
Maintenance should start on all sites once the trees are planted. Key tasks include operations such as weed control, replacing tree losses and ensuring that the crop remains healthy and vigorous. All young plantations should be maintained so that:
The most commonly planted broadleaved trees in Ireland are ash, sycamore, oak and beech. The lower section of the trunk is the most valuable part of these trees. This is the portion of the tree, which yields the greatest financial return. Particular attention should be paid to stem quality over the first 4 years during which time stem height is likely to reach between 2.0 to 4.0 metres. A quality stem in a young broadleaved tree is one which is straight and unforked, with no particularly heavy branches distorting it.
ish forests are among the healthiest in Europe with relatively few serious forest pests and diseases. This is mainly due to our island status, the relative newness of the forest estate and the enforcement of plant health regulations. The increasing movement between countries of plant material and wood products such as logs, sawn timbers, pallets, packing cases and ship’s dunnage increases the risk of spread of potentially very damaging forest pests and diseases. The threat to Irish forests is best illustrated by the damage caused by Dutch Elm Disease which was introduced into Ireland and which has devastated our elm tree population. It is vital that our increasingly valuable forest estate is protected from similar exotic threats.
Nutrient Deficiencies The nutrient requirements of trees are low in comparison to most agricultural crops. However, sufficient nutrients must be continuously available to achieve good growth rates and high yields. As trees develop, the need for fertiliser will depend on the soil type and tree species planted. Trees growing on infertile peaty or mineral soils may display symptoms of nutrient deficiency after a number of years. These deficiencies can occur despite correct fertiliser application at planting time. It is important to walk your plantation and monitor trees regularly for any of the following:
Many areas of land throughout the countryside contain existing degraded woodland or scrub which have received little or no management in the past. Such areas may be eligible for grant aid under one of the Forest Service schemes.
Thinning increases the total volume yield of usable timber over the lifetime of the crop and provides an intermediate source of timber and revenue before clearfelling. Before making the decision on whether to thin the plantation, a qualified forester should be employed to assess the crop. The decision to thin is dependent on a number of factors: species and age, ground conditions, degree of access, availability of markets, suitable machinery and skilled labour.
-The current emphasis on biodiversity or nature conservation arises from global concerns for the quality of our environment. The word “biodiversity” is a combination of the words “biological” and “diversity”, and refers to the range of plant and animal species that live on this planet.
Sustainable Forest Management
Why and who benefits?
Over the past number of years, there has been a steady increase in the number and complexity of rules and regulations with regard to forest plantations in Ireland. Many farmers regard these regulations as a disincentive to setting up a farm forest enterprise. Why then are these regulations in place?
The Forest Service of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is the State body with overall responsibility for forestry in Ireland. The Forest Service oversees the spending of EU financial supports for forestry. It is also responsible for the promotion of private forestry, for forest protection, control of felling and the promotion of research in forestry and forest produce.
Threats to Irish forests from exotic pests and diseases
Written by Gerard Cahalane, Forestry Inspector, Forest Service
Tuesday, 08 July 2003
ish forests are among the healthiest in Europe with relatively few serious forest pests and diseases. This is mainly due to our island status, the relative newness of the forest estate and the enforcement of plant health regulations. The increasing movement between countries of plant material and wood products such as logs, sawn timbers, pallets, packing cases and ship’s dunnage increases the risk of spread of potentially very damaging forest pests and diseases. The threat to Irish forests is best illustrated by the damage caused by Dutch Elm Disease which was introduced into Ireland and which has devastated our elm tree population. It is vital that our increasingly valuable forest estate is protected from similar exotic threats.
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• The policy of the Forest Service, as outlined in its strategic plan for the development of the forestry sector, is to maintain a healthy forest environment by ensuring good management, identifying risks and maintaining a sustained commitment to measures which prevent the entry and establishment of destructive forest pests and diseases.
• Under the EU Plant Health Directive 2000/29/EC, strict regulatory controls are in place to protect Ireland’s forests. These relate to the movement of forest plants and forest products into Ireland both from within the EU and from non-EU countries.
Threats from within the EU In the context of the Internal Market, Ireland has been granted a special Protected Zone status with regard to 10 harmful forest pests and diseases. A Protected Zone is essentially an area in the EU where a pest of quarantine significance, established in other parts of the EU, is not present despite favourable conditions for it to establish.
• Of the Protected Zone pests and diseases, the bark beetles, Ips typographus and Dendroctonus micans are potentially the most serious. Ips typographus, the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, is endemic on the continent but is not present in Ireland or Great Britain. It is probably the most serious pest of spruce in Europe. During non-outbreak periods the beetle breeds in wind-blown trees, logs in the forest and freshly felled trees. However during outbreak it kills healthy trees. The insect can also act as a vector for several blue-stain fungi which contribute to the death of infested trees. Dendroctonus micans, the great spruce bark beetle is also widespread on the continent and this species has also become established in parts of Great Britain.
• A cornerstone of Ireland’s plant health regulations is that the importation of coniferous wood with bark attached is strictly prohibited. This is to prevent the introduction of a range of bark beetle and weevil pests. In addition certain plant and plant products moving into or within Ireland from other EU Member States must be accompanied by a valid Plant Passport issued by a registered producer indicating that the area of production is free from the listed pests and diseases or that certain prescribed treatments have been carried out.
Threats from outside the EU Under the EU Plant Health Directive strict controls are in place to prevent the entry of a wide range of forest pests and diseases which occur in other parts of the world and which could pose a serious threat to both Ireland’s and the rest of the EU’s forests.
There are a number of import regulations in place to prevent the entry of the above harmful organisms. Importers of regulated material must be formally registered and a Phytosanitary Certificate must accompany imports. Oak plants in leaf, originating in non-European countries are prohibited. Most conifer plants from non-European countries are banned. All conifer wood originating in North America must be heat-treated to 56 degrees Centigrade for 30 minutes. Isolated conifer bark is banned. Coniferous wood packing (pallets, crates etc.) originating in Canada, China, Japan and the USA and in use in the transport of commodities of all kinds must have an approved mark verifying that the wood packing has been specially heat treated or fumigated. In recognition of the risk posed by wood packing it is likely that this treatment and marking requirement for wood packing will be extended to imports from other non-EU countries. The Forest Service carries out an ongoing survey of the Irish forest estate for injurious pests and diseases and under EU legislation is required to carry out mandatory surveys for specific quarantine pests and diseases. Early detection of a newly introduced pest or disease is essential and forest owners and the forest industry are encouraged to be ever vigilant in detecting such introductions. If you suspect that you might have a problem contact your Teagasc forestry adviser.
The following are the pests and diseases which are present in other parts of the EU and for which Ireland has Protected Zone status, with associated special requirements for the import of plants and wood from other EU Member States Cephalcia lariciphila (larch sawfly)
Dendroctonus micans (great spruce bark beetle)
Gilpinea hercyniae (spruce sawfly)
Gremmeniella abietina (Brunchorstia disease)
Hypoxylon mammatum (a canker disease of poplar)
Ips amitinus (small eight-toothed spruce bark beetle)
Ips cembrae (large larch bark beetle)
Ips duplicatus
Ips sexdentatus (six-toothed bark beetle)
Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle)
The following are the main pest and disease threats from outside the EU: Acleris spp. (budworm species)
Anoplophora glabripennis (Asian longhorned beetle)
Arceuthobium spp. (dwarf mistletoes)
Atropellis spp. (branch and trunk canker of pine)
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pine wood nematode)
Ceratocystis virescens (sapstreak disease of maple)
Ceratocystis fimbriata (canker stain of plane)
Ceratocystis fagacearum (oak wilt disease)
Chrysomyxa arctostaphyli
(common yellow witches’ broom rust)
Cryphonectria parastica (chestnut blight)
Endocronartium spp. (e.g. western gall rust)
Melampsora farlowii (hemlock rust)
Melampsora medusae (poplar rust)
Monochamus spp. (non-European longhorn beetles)
Mycosphaerella dearnessii (brown spot needle blight)
Mycosphaerella gibsonii (brown needle blight of pine)
Mycosphaerella pini (red band needle blight)
Mycosphaerella populorum (septoria canker of poplar)
Phytophthora ramorum (sudden oak death)
Pissodes spp. (non-European weevils)
Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle)
Scolytidae spp. (non-European bark beetles)
Unusual signs or symptoms of a pest/disease attack (top dying, severe wilt, presence of insects beneath the bark or on the foliage, tree deaths etc.) should be reported immediately to your local Forestry Inspector or to the following:
Mr. Gerard Cahalane or
Mr. Tom McDonald,
Forest Service,
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources,
29-31 Adelaide Road,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-678 2156
Fax: 01 678 2169
Threats to Irish forests from exotic pests and diseases 
