Strategies & Actions:

The following strategies and actions are proposed for the achievement of the five aims listed here

Aim 1: To promote a greater awareness and understanding of silvicultural systems conforming to Pro Silva Principles amongst our members and the forestry sector in general.

Promote knowledge of the existence of Pro Silva Ireland and its objectives

• Submit articles for ITGA, UTGO, SIF, CRANN, IFCA and An Taisce newsletters
• Invite journalists to Open Forest days (e.g. Joe Barry, Michael Viney, Hugh Scanlan)
• Place listing in ITGA yearbook
• Maintain close relations with SIF, UTGO, ITGA, IFCA, ITC etc.
• Develop a simple web page with links to COFORD, Coillte, and other Irish and International web sites.
• Continue to publish the ProSilva Ireland enewsletter and circulate to all members.
• Become a member of the Irish Forestry Certification Initiative (IFCI), which is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) group in Ireland.
• Meet with Dúchas to discuss their current forest management policies and encourage their membership and active involvement in Pro Silva Ireland
• Compile a comprehensive list of sites in Ireland which are currently managed on a continuous cover basis.
• Access any previous lists and confirm authenticity
• Access list of Coillte sites coded for continuous cover /long termretention
• Access list of Dúchas sites where there is active and positive forest managementpracticed
• Survey Pro Silva Ireland members (completed 2016)
• Seek co-operation from ITGA, UTGO and SIF in the surveying of their members
• Organise field days in Ireland, led by experts, at which the concepts involved in silvicultural systems conforming to Pro Silva Principles of forestry practice are discussed and, where possible, demonstrated.
• Form an events sub-committee dedicated to running field days, training courses and foreign visits.
• Organise field trips to abroad to areas where silvicultural systems conforming to Pro Silva Principles of forestry are widely practiced.
• Form an events sub-committee dedicated to running field days, training courses and foreign visits.

Aim 2: To develop a greater level of expertise amongst foresters and forest owners in the practice of silvicultural systems conforming to Pro Silva in Ireland.

• Promote the teaching of silvicultural systems conforming to Pro Silva Principles by experts as part of third level forestry curriculae.
• Write to and meet with UCD, WIT, GMIT, Tralee forestry departments.
• Facilitate links between these third level colleges and continuous cover experts in Britain & Europe.
• Organise training courses in Ireland, run by experts, at which ProSilva Ireland members will receive formal training on different aspects of continuous cover forestry.
• Form an events sub-committee dedicated to running Open forest days, training courses and foreign visits. Foster links with other European forestry groups and continue as active members of ProSilva in Europe. Identify and compile sources of information on silvicultural systems conforming to ProSilva Principles.
• Compile a bibliography of websites, journals, newsletters texts to circulate to members and to provide for external enquiries.

Aim 3:  To support research into the dynamics of forest ecosystems, particularly those processes critically associated with silvicultural systems conforming to Pro Silva Principles in Ireland.

Promote the concept of a co-ordinated research programme into continuous cover forestry systems in Ireland

• Meet with COFORD, DARD Forest Service, DMNR  Forest Service & Coillte to discuss
• Investigate European research programmes into continuous cover forestry and whether it would be possible to participate in these in any way.
• Prepare a submission to COFORD seeking an indication of their interests in funding research into silvicultural systems conforming to Pro Silva Principles and a list of related research projects currently being funded by them .Provideco-operation to those conducting research through the provision of sites
• Compile a list of sites whose owners are willing to participate in research activity.

Aim 4: To support the adaptation and development of silvicultural systems conforming to ProSilva Principles for use in Ireland.

• Work closely with Coillte who are committed as part of their FSC certification, to increasingly favour continuous cover systems and the long term retention of stands.

• Appoint a Coillte liaison officer, preferably a Coillte employee, who will facilitate co-operation between Pro Silva Ireland and Coillte continuous cover forestry activity.
• Encourage increased membership amongst Coillte, DARD Forest Service and DMNR Forest Service foresters.
• Work closely with the UK Continuous Cover group, particularly in relation to their experiences in converting conventional plantation / clear-fell forestry practice to continuous cover systems on non lowland sites.Continue involvement on the Woodlands of Ireland Technical Working Group, which is advising the Forest Service on the Native Woodland Establishment and Conservation Schemes.

Aim 5:  To promote the development of an Irish market for large dimensioned timber, both hardwood and softwood. Assess the current and future market for large dimensioned timber in Ireland

• Identify current processors of large dimensioned timber in Ireland
• Survey these processors and discuss with them their requirements and their vision of the future.
• Survey the current price ranges for large dimensioned timber in Ireland and compare with international prices.
• Commission a report on the current and future market for large dimensioned timber in Ireland based on the information gathered above.
• Circulate this report to all members