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Potential Benefits

The appropriate, sustainable management of native woodlands in their own right is the ultimate objective of all these activities in addition to raising awareness and encouraging an appreciation of the resource amongst the general public. Native woodlands, through joint management/research initiatives, could also provide valuable information to the commercial forestry sector, which could be used in sustainable development strategies and management of commercial forests. Specifically, the diversification of tree species and biodiversity enhancement may be facilitated through research and woodland management projects.

A number of such projects are already ongoing, many under the auspices of the National Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD). The incorporation of nature-oriented management techniques in commercial forestry is occurring in other European countries, particularly Germany, Austria and Finland. These practices have been gaining increasing importance as a result of recent international conventions and protocols. Many countries are adopting the guidelines on sustainable management and biodiversity laid down by the Helsinki Process, and are endeavouring to comply with the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Conservationists and foresters alike are beginning to recognise that it is possible to conserve most native woodlands sufficiently, while at the same time managing them for wood production. For centuries, they have been doing this in Central European countries, where selective felling is practised in forests without significantly affecting woodland cover. In many cases, these European woodlands owe their very survival to their long-term management. Thus, the future management of our native woodlands should include, where feasible, a commercial element.

This is also imperative during lean times when grant aid may not be forthcoming and where economic sustainability will be a crucial component in the long term viability of native woodlands. However, a selection of high biodiversity value woodland communities which are representative of all the native woodland types that exist in Ireland today, i.e. oak, ash, hazel, yew woodland, oak, birch holly, etc., should be set-aside for conservation and research purposes only.

Government involvement, especially through financial support and the formal launch of this initiative, could provide the impetus and publicity required to involve as many people as possible. It would give the project its own distinctive identity, providing an umbrella for all the relevant links involved, including social, cultural, scientific and educational elements. Full community involvement is envisaged and will incorporate a North-South dimension, in partnership format, that will realise a vision of our native woodlands as a multi-functional resource for all the people of Ireland. This project is for all Irish people, at home and abroad, especially future generations, who will look back to the year 2000 AD as the year when a positive statement was acted upon, signifying the development and rehabilitation of our native woodlands for the benefit of future generations.

The successful implementation of this project would create a sense of identity in the general public with native woodlands. In addition, spin-offs would include educational, ecological, sustainable commercial forest practices and small wood-based industries.

		Potential Benefits The appropriate, sustainable management of native woodlands in their own right is the ultimate objective of all these activities in addition to raising awareness and encouraging an appreciation of the resource amongst the general public. Native woodlands, through joint management/research initiatives, could also provide valuable information to the commercial forestry sector, which could be used in sustainable development strategies and management of commercial forests. Specifically, the diversification of tree species and biodiversity enhancement may be facilitated through research and woodland management projects.
A number of such projects are already ongoing, many under the auspices of the National Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD). The incorporation of nature-oriented management techniques in commercial forestry is occurring in other European countries, particularly Germany, Austria and Finland. These practices have been gaining increasing importance as a result of recent international conventions and protocols. Many countries are adopting the guidelines on sustainable management and biodiversity laid down by the Helsinki Process, and are endeavouring to comply with the Convention on Biological Diversity.
		Conservationists and foresters alike are beginning to recognise that it is possible to conserve most native woodlands sufficiently, while at the same time managing them for wood production. For centuries, they have been doing this in Central European countries, where selective felling is practised in forests without significantly affecting woodland cover. In many cases, these European woodlands owe their very survival to their long-term management. Thus, the future management of our native woodlands should include, where feasible, a commercial element.
This is also imperative during lean times when grant aid may not be forthcoming and where economic sustainability will be a crucial component in the long term viability of native woodlands. However, a selection of high biodiversity value woodland communities which are representative of all the native woodland types that exist in Ireland today, i.e. oak, ash, hazel, yew woodland, oak, birch holly, etc., should be set-aside for conservation and research purposes only. Government involvement, especially through financial support and the formal launch of this initiative, could provide the impetus and publicity required to involve as many people as possible. It would give the project its own distinctive identity, providing an umbrella for all the relevant links involved, including social, cultural, scientific and educational elements. Full community involvement is envisaged and will incorporate a North-South dimension, in partnership format, that will realise a vision of our native woodlands as a multi-functional resource for all the people of Ireland. This project is for all Irish people, at home and abroad, especially future generations, who will look back to the year 2000 AD as the year when a positive statement was acted upon, signifying the development and rehabilitation of our native woodlands for the benefit of future generations.
	The successful implementation of this project would create a sense of identity in the general public with native woodlands. In addition, spin-offs would include educational, ecological, sustainable commercial forest practices and small wood-based industries.