In this episode
How have Ireland’s forests changed over time, and what can their history tell us about how we manage them today?
In the first episode of The Permanent Forest, host Chris Hayes traces the story of Ireland’s forests, from ancient woodlands and centuries of clearance to the emergence of modern forestry.
With contributions from Paul McMahon, Janice Fuller and others, we uncover some surprising insights into Ireland’s forest history, why forestry became associated with the great estates, and how a small group of foresters began challenging conventional approaches to forest management.
Discover how the past continues to shape our attitudes towards forests, and why continuous cover forestry offers a different vision of what our forests can be – productive, resilient and rich in benefits for people and nature.
Ireland went from a country that exported timber to one that had to import wood, as centuries of forest clearance transformed the landscape.
Episode highlights
- 08:40 Learning from the past: how pollen preserved in bogs reveals the history of Ireland’s forests
- 09:32 The arrival of people and the first signs of forest clearance
- 18:14 From exporting to importing timber: how Ireland’s relationship with wood changed
- 18:37 Tree planting and the beginnings of organised reforestation
- 24:29 Why early advocates persisted with continuous cover forestry
- 25:10 Recognising the wider benefits forests can provide
Relevant Links
- Pro Silva Ireland
- What is CCF?
- A Guide to Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland by Sean Hoskins
- Island of Woods: How Ireland Lost its Forests and How to Get them Back by Paul McMahon
