The use of cost effective and biologically sound methods of growing and managing forests is essential to the competitiveness and long term sustainability of the forest industry. Silviculture Section is responsible for the development of improved methods for forest establishment and early growth. The Section also undertakes work on reducing our losses to windthrow and examining alternatives to clearfelling.

In co-operation with University College Dublin (UCD) and Coillte Nurseries Division, testing the physiological quality of planting stock to determine optimum times to lift, store and plant a range of conifer and broadleaf species.

• Evaluation of planting stock sizes and new stock types.
• Testing new cultivation and planting equipment.
• Improving linkages with Operations colleagues in the Coillte Establishment Teams through the publication of a Newsletter.
• As part of a joint Coillte/Bord na Mona/UCD project, assessing a range of cultivation and species choices on cutaway peat sites (BOGFOR Project).
• Evaluating (in co-operation with UCD colleagues) a windthrow hazard model.
• Looking at alternatives to clearfelling in both conifer and broadleaf crops and establishing demonstration areas in Coillte Christmas Tree farms.
• Co-operating with colleagues in Europe within the EU 'Larch Chain' project.

Dr. Michael Keane,
Silviculture,
Coillte Research & Development,
Newtownmountkennedy,
Co. Wicklow,
Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0) 1 20 111 59
Fax: +353 (0) 86 248 1846
Email:michael.keane@coillte.ie