A Teagasc webinar on ‘Managing young broadleaf forests for quality’ will take place on Tuesday, 20 July, at 7pm. It will focus on the necessary steps to ensure quality hardwood timber production.
The event will include a series of short informative videos and a live studio panel of Teagasc advisors and researchers discussing site selection, early pruning, grading trees by quality and vigour, marking for thinning, harvesting best practice and management grants available to owners.
The early years in the development of a broadleaf forest are critical in order to select the best quality trees, to apply pruning where required and to provide selected trees with sufficient space for vigorous growth. Without appropriate and timely selective management, much of the future hardwood timber value will be restricted to firewood.
While the firewood market is a very important market outlet early on, the focus should be on the production of sawlogs of sufficient dimensions and quality for planking and use by the joinery and furniture trade.
Nuala NiFhlatharta, Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department said, “Irish broadleaf forests account today for approximately 30% of all Irish forests with much of our broadleaf farm forest still young and at developing stage. Reasons for planting a broadleaf forest on the farm are diverse, such as biodiversity, water protection, landscape and timber production.”
“In many cases, a mix of different objectives is adopted by owners, with timber production often being a central driver. If timber production is an important objective then timely selective management is a must.”
Dr Ian Short, Broadleaf Forestry Research Officer with Teagasc will participate in the panel discussion and added, “Teagasc has been researching aspects of broadleaf establishment and management for more than 20 years, leading to guidance on best practice. This is provided and demonstrated at frequent knowledge transfer events, such as the webinar being held next Tuesday.”
“I encourage all owners of broadleaf forests to attend the webinar to gain insights into how to manage their broadleaf forest to produce high quality timber.”
Free webinar – Tuesday 20 July, 7pm. Register here: www.teagasc.ie/broadleaves
Source: Teagasc
