Project Manager: Dr Declan Little
A Project Manager, Dr Declan Little, was employed in August 1998 to co-ordinate activities leading towards the attainment of the objectives outlined. Declan has spent more than a decade working in native oakwoods. From 1989 - 1998 he studied native woodland soils and ecology in the Forest Ecosystem Research Group, Department of Environmental Resource Management, and the Department of Zoology, University College Dublin. After leaving to join the People's Millennium Forests project in December 1999, Declan was succeeded by Mr John O'Reilly who maintained the momentum generated during the initial period. John subsequently departed the project in November 2001 and Declan Little was again appointed as Project Manager in February 2002. In 2003 Cara Doyle became Project Manager and oversaw the organisation of the Native Woodland Conference which was held in Galway in September 2004. Subsequent to a years teaching in Forest Management at GMIT, Galway, Declan Little was re-appointed as Project Manager of Woodlands of Ireland in September, 2004.
Structures
In 1998, the Steering Committee secured financial support equally from the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Heritage Council and National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to employ a Project Manager for a period of three years to oversee the development fganisations are de facto members of the group. Its function is to provide overall guidance to the project and ensure society relevance. The Technical Working group established at that time to provide technical support has been expanded over the years to include areas of expertise that are required as new developments occur. At present there are over twenty members on the group representing a wide range of organisations and disciplines including woodland ecology, forestry, research, inland fisheries, woodland growers, consultants, contractors, nurseries, etc.
