Teagasc and the Forest Service has organised a National Forestry Event focusing on the Management and Thinning of Oak and Conifer Mixtures. It will take place on Wednesday, 10 July at the Kilruane McDonagh GAA Centre, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary.
Dr Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, Head of Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department comments: “Good management of forests is essential to maximise their value. The Forest sector makes an important contribution of €2.2 billion every year to the Irish economy, which is significant, especially in these difficult times.”
Michael Somers, Forestry Adviser with Teagasc explains what this national forestry event aims to achieve: “With the management of oak, thinning is an essential operation to ensure the production of valuable hardwood timber and to optimise returns. This is very important especially in oak/conifer mixtures, where without the necessary intervention the conifer may outcompete and smother the oak.”
Dr Ian Short, Teagasc Research Officer and principal researcher of the COFORD-funded B-SilvRD Project describes what participants can expect on the day: “The event will demonstrate to participants the optimum time to commence thinning as competing conifers within the crop need to be removed. We will show and discuss the process of marking the potential final crop trees and competitors and show a recently thinned area.”
He concludes: “Other important discussion topics include chainsaw felling and safety, timber presentation for extraction, removal methods and potential uses for the timber. Details on preparing for thinning will also be presented including felling licences, broadleaf thinning grants and road access.”
Full details of this event can be found on the Teagasc Forestry website: www.teagasc.ie/forestry.