Forests and forestry practices can have significant effects on environmentally sensitive sites unless carefully managed. Knowing and understanding the underlying causes of these effects is essential for the development of environmentally sound forestry policy and practice.

Equally, the effects of environmental pressures on forests from atmospheric depositions and climatic and biotic forces can impact on the health of forests which again has implications for management practice. A major part the work of Site Studies Section is environmental monitoring within the forests as well as determining the nutritional, soil and site requirements of different species. The section also provides analytical services to Coillte and external customers. Projects include:

• The impact of forestry practices on water quality. This project is being undertaken to determine the impact of forest practices e.g. establishment, aerial fertilisation, harvesting on stream-water quality at environmentally sensitive sites.
• Forest nutrition studies to determine the optimum nutrient levels of species and crops to maintain growth and high productivity. Alternative organic sources of nutrients in the form of municipal and dairy sludges are also being studied.
• Laboratory Analytical Services centred in the Site Studies lab in Newtownmountkennedy provide analyses of soil, foliage, water and other materials to Coillte and external customers.

Dr. Richard McCarthy,
Site Studies Section,
Coillte Research & Development,
Newtownmountkennedy,
Co. Wicklow,
Ireland

Tel: +353 1 201 1111
Fax: +353 1 201 1199
Email: richard.mccarthy@coillte.ie