The right trees in the right places for the right reasons

The conference addresses issues such as species that enhance the landscape and biodiversity as well as climate change mitigation; all essential components and benefits of sustainable forest management (SFM). In addition, the conference addresses the socio-economic values of forests for forest owners, the people who work the forests and stakeholders who benefit from forestry. The conference evaluates the economic importance of species in the market place including downstream industries.

This approach incorporates "the right trees in the right places" to ensure a balance between biodiversity and productivity while the "the right reasons" explore the multipurpose benefits and challenges facing Irish forestry both wood and non-wood products and services from timber to recreation to decarbonising the economy.

The conference is divided into two sections:

1. The right trees and the right places – an inventory of what species we have and what's best for Ireland in terms of land use, species diversity, soils and biodiversity.

2. The right reasons – explores the role of forestry in climate change mitigation, timber processing, displacement of fossil based fuels and materials (energy, construction etc), landscape, investment

AGENDA

INTRODUCTION

09.00 Donal Magner, Forestry Editor, Irish Farmers Journal and Environment Lead, Rotary Ireland.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

09.05 Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use, Forestry and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

SESSION 1: THE RIGHT TREES IN THE RIGHT PLACES

CHAIRPERSON

Éanna Ní Lamhna, President, the Tree Council of Ireland, environmental consultant, biologist and well know radio and TV presenter.

09.20 John Redmond, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Topic: What we have: Assessment of the National Forest Inventory.

09.35 Niall Farrelly, Senior Research Officer, Teagasc

Topic: Land availability in achieving the government's 8,000-ha annual programme.

09. 55 Stuart Goodall, CEO Confederation of Forest Industries UK (Confor)

Topic: Achieving a balanced afforestation programme.

10.15 Marina Conway, CEO Western Forestry Co-op

Topic: The right trees- native and introduced.

10.30 Pádraic Fogarty, Campaign Officer, Irish Wildlife Trust.

Topic: Sustainability in contemporary forest and woodland management.

10.50 Declan Little, Native Woodland Specialist, Coillte

Topic: Influence of soils on tree species selection.

SESSION 2: THE RIGHT REASONS

CHAIRPERSON

Dr. Matt Crowe, Chairperson Project Woodland Working Group 2, Project Woodland and former director EPA .

11.20 Dr. Elaine McGough, Natural Environment Officer, An Taisce

Topic: The role of forestry in environmental conservation.

11.35 John Desmond, Managing Director, Cygnum Timber Frame Ltd.

Topic: Wood in the community – timber frame construction from local forests.

11.50 Brendan Lacey, CEO, IrForUT. and chair, Irish Timber Growers Association

Topic: Trees as a sustainable investment.

12.10 Dr David Styles, University of Limerick

Topic: The role of forestry in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

12.30 Jo O'Hara, Managing Director at FutureArk Ltd. Former CEO of Scottish Forestry and member of the Project Woodland board member.

Topic: The challenge of achieving real forest multi-functionality.

12.50 Open forum Q&A

13.30 Close of conference by Ken Bucke, President, Society of Irish Foresters

The National Forestry Conference is organised by the Society of Irish Foresters and is part funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine .

This conference is worth 15 CPD points to those registered on the Society CPD programme

Co-organisers on behalf of the Society of Irish Foresters are Pat O'Sullivan & Donal Magner.