The National Survey of Native Woodland in Ireland
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Client: National Parks & Wildlife Service BEC Consultants organised this large, multidisciplinary project from February 2003 through to March 2008. The project involved field ecology, GIS technology, soil analysis and statistical data analysis. During the field survey the ecological teams recorded data on trees, shrubs, herbs, ferns, mosses, liverworts and lichens along with important structural and regeneration data. 1,320 woodland sites were surveyed and over 70,000 tree stems were measured. In addition, a desk study augmented the Forestry Inventory and Planning System (FIPS) to produce a national inventory of native woodlands in Microsoft Access ® and ArcView ® GIS. The phase one (2004) and phase two (2004 - 2005) reports have been completed and are available to download. The final report was completed in March 2008 and will be made available on this website. |
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Project Background
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Ireland is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with about 9% of the State covered with trees, the majority of which are commercial plantations of exotic species. None of the woodland present in Ireland today may be considered as wholly 'natural' as even the oldest woodlands show evidence of human activity and modification. The term 'native' woodland is therefore generally accepted to refer to broadleaved woodlands, comprised of native species that are not intensively managed. |
| Irish woodlands have been classified according to various systems e.g. EU Habitat types, Coillte stand classifications and phytosociological communities, but no systematic nationwide survey and classification of native Irish woodland has been carried out to date. | |
Aims
This project involved a detailed and comprehensive investigation of the diversity of Irish woodlands and aimed to:
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Methods
Information gathered during the field surveys included:
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Downloads
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Click to download the Interim Reports: Perrin P.M., Barron S.J. and Martin J.R. (2006) National Survey of Native Woodland in Ireland: Second Phase Report. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin. |
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| Higgins, G.T., Martin, J.R. & Perrin, P.M. (2004) A National Survey of Native Woodland in Ireland. National Parks & Wildlife Service, Dublin. |
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| Click to download a paper on this project: |
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| Click to download an Information Leaflet: |
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