Environmental and social enhancement of forest plantations on western peatlands - a case study.

  • Dermot Tiernan Coillte, Davitt House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland.
Keywords: Peatland forests, redesign plans, sustainable forest management, financial appraisal.

Abstract

A case study was carried out on future management scenarios for Western Peatland Forests (WPFs) along the Western Seaboard. It indicates a change in emphasis from wood production alone to a broader ecosystem management approach with increased emphasis on environmental and social objectives. Productive and financial potentials of typical WPFs were examined, and redesign plans were developed, consistent with an ecosystem management approach. Both the productive and financial potential of WPFs were found to be challenging under current conditions; options to improve this situation are presented and discussed. The impact of redesign planning was quantified in terms of biodiversity enhancement, bog restoration and protection, enhanced watercourse protection and visual landscape improvement. Impacts were projected to a national level to indicate future management scenarios for WPFs.
Published
2007-11-01
How to Cite
Tiernan, D. (2007) “Environmental and social enhancement of forest plantations on western peatlands - a case study.”, Irish Forestry. Available at: https://journal.societyofirishforesters.ie/index.php/forestry/article/view/9993 (Accessed: 28March2024).
Section
Articles