Ireland's Forest Industry with Mark McAuley
Download MP3In this interview I speak with Mark McAulay from Forest Industries Ireland (a business group within IBEC). We discuss the positives and negative aspects of forestry in the past, as well as the size and benefit of the industry we now have. I ask Mark about environmental and social concerns opponents of commercial plantation forestry have. A further common criticism is that Ireland's conifer forests produce poor timber, so we address that, and Mark explains the many uses homegrown softwoods are put to. We discuss how Europes over zealous interpretation of "peatland" is restricting planting in Ireland but that it needs to be reconsidered on improved soils grasslands especially. Finally, we discuss why all landowners should consider planting trees and about the supports the government offer for establishment and management.
This podcast is supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. If you're thinking of planting a new forest or if you want information on financial and technical supports to manage your existing forest then go to
This podcast is supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. If you're thinking of planting a new forest or if you want information on financial and technical supports to manage your existing forest then go to
Key Points:
- The economic contribution of the Irish forestry sector
- Public perception and biodiversity considerations
- The impact of European regulations on Irish forestry
- The importance of coniferous and native forests for climate and biodiversity
- Management practices like clearfell and continuous cover forestry
- Increasing afforestation in the future
Quotes:
- "90% plus of the population think that forests are a good thing and that we should have more of them."
- "Forests are a major tool in combating climate change"
- "Timber locks away carbon and keeps it out of the atmosphere"
- "Clearfell areas green up very quickly, usually within a few years"
- "Let's say you're getting 200,000 euro in forestry premiums... over 20 years. Could we look at front loading some of that?"
- Explaining low afforestation: "We always have found in forestry in Ireland over the years is when agriculture is doing well, forestry doesn't do well, because people are not looking for a different option."
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Follow the Guest on:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcauley-ba72445a/
Other Links of Note:
Forest Industries Ireland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forest-industries-ireland/posts/?feedView=all
IBEC / FII: https://www.ibec.ie/connect-and-learn/industries/energy-transport-and-resources/forest-industries-ireland
FII Sponsored Timber Design Award: https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/tu-dublin-architecture-students-win-fii-timber-design-award/
Timber Spec - CPD learning portal: https://timberspec.ie/
Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on:
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Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/
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Contact Dermot:
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Mark McAulay and Forest Industries Ireland
02:01 The two priorities: planting more forests and using more Irish timber
04:30 Forestry, biodiversity and the case for conifer forests
08:11 Native woodland versus Sitka spruce and the climate argument
11:22 Why Ireland is different from the rest of Europe
15:20 The economic contribution of Ireland's forestry and timber industry
18:24 Why Irish timber can replace imported Scandinavian timber
20:37 How Ireland's forests supply sawmills, construction and packaging
22:06 Rising global timber demand and the case for sustainable forestry
23:14 Clearfelling: environmental concerns and the visual impact
26:55 The recreational benefits of forests and public access
31:00 Is continuous cover forestry realistic for Ireland?
33:25 Storm damage, forest design and the economics of clearfelling
34:40 Pesticides and chemical use in Irish forestry
37:35 Afforestation: should landowners consider planting trees?
38:03 Forestry regulation, licensing and the planting process
40:24 Government supports and the financial case for planting
42:44 Forestry returns compared with other farming systems
45:10 Environmental restrictions and the loss of productive forest area
48:42 What Forest Industries Ireland wants from the next forestry programme
51:28 The future of Irish forestry: planting the right trees in the right place
51:36 Conclusion
02:01 The two priorities: planting more forests and using more Irish timber
04:30 Forestry, biodiversity and the case for conifer forests
08:11 Native woodland versus Sitka spruce and the climate argument
11:22 Why Ireland is different from the rest of Europe
15:20 The economic contribution of Ireland's forestry and timber industry
18:24 Why Irish timber can replace imported Scandinavian timber
20:37 How Ireland's forests supply sawmills, construction and packaging
22:06 Rising global timber demand and the case for sustainable forestry
23:14 Clearfelling: environmental concerns and the visual impact
26:55 The recreational benefits of forests and public access
31:00 Is continuous cover forestry realistic for Ireland?
33:25 Storm damage, forest design and the economics of clearfelling
34:40 Pesticides and chemical use in Irish forestry
37:35 Afforestation: should landowners consider planting trees?
38:03 Forestry regulation, licensing and the planting process
40:24 Government supports and the financial case for planting
42:44 Forestry returns compared with other farming systems
45:10 Environmental restrictions and the loss of productive forest area
48:42 What Forest Industries Ireland wants from the next forestry programme
51:28 The future of Irish forestry: planting the right trees in the right place
51:36 Conclusion
