There could be additional benefits in terms of reduced costs for water purification and the treatment of waste water required to avoid adding further nutrients into the ecosystem.xiii Coordinated planting of riversides and catchments could further improve salmonid habitats and the angling value of rivers. https://doi.org/10.1186/1179-5395-44-S1-S4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1179-5395-44-S1-S4, Over 10 million scientific documents at your fingertips, Not logged in 2006).ix Products made of hardwood do not necessarily have a longer life cycle than those from softwood (aside from the use of softwoods for pallets or pulp). volume 44, Article number: S4 (2014) Ten native woodland areas were surveyed that were either privately or publicly owned. 2011). Results of the scoring process indicated that each of the sites has potential to support biodiversity objectives by providing a diverse woodland habitat. O'Brien L, Murray R: A marvellous opportunity for children to learn: A participatory evaluation of Forest School in England and Wales. Using the following assumptions (that one fifth of the existing area of native woodland is thinned or is subject to wood collection annually, fuelwood price is €50 m-3 and potential volumes are 10-20 m3 ha-1), the current area of native woodland could provide a gross income of €2-4 million per year.
News National Ecosystem and Ecosystem Services mapping pilot for Ireland. This modification reduces the value associated with the existing area of native woodland to less than €1 million per year. Natural capital underpins our well–being and economic prosperity, providing multiple benefits to society, yet it is consistently undervalued in decision–making.
In Carbon sequestration and irish Forest Ecosystems. Bog woodland is classified as "poor", while old oak (mainly Quercus petraea) woodland, alluvial woodland and yew (Taxus baccata) woodland are each considered to be "bad".
Broadmeadow S, Nisbet TR: The effects of riparian forest management on the freshwater environment: A literature review of best management practice. The risk of double counting in relation to health, biodiversity or carbon sequestration is limited, as noted above. An assessment of the effectiveness of the NWS was conducted by the authors. Thinnings can contribute to renewable energy targets without impacting on tree growth. Environment Systems has successfully produced ecosystem services maps on both national and regional projects across the UK and Ireland and in other parts of the world.
Clinch JP: Cost-benefit analysis of Irish forest policy (Environmental valuation in developed countries). What is more pertinent is the opportunity cost of failing to take into account the potential ecosystem service values that could be realised by an expansion of native woodland beyond its current very limited area. 1994; Clinch 2006; Fitzpatrick Associates 2005; Upton et al. Wise use of wetlands, including the conservation and restoration of hydrological functions, is essential in maintaining an infrastructure that can help meet a wide range of policy objectives. Editing input has been provided by DL. See website for details. Johnstown Castle, Wexford: Environmental Protection Agency; 2007. Dublin: Indecon International Economic Consultants for Central Fisheries Board 2003. Irish Forest Industry Chain 2006. Culling is both difficult and expensive, especially when uncoordinated amongst neighbouring landowners. In gross terms, this would be worth €200 million per year or €60 million in thinnings, although this figure includes state-transfer payments. The biomass of large trees contains a great deal of carbon but their growth rates will be low and so sequestration of further carbon will be small. There are no direct references which have been provided by any individual in the paper. Most of this activity would, of course, occur in non-native coniferous forest as this type of forest predominates. Just 20,000 hectares is represented by woodland resembling the ancient woodland that once covered much of Ireland. Some information can be obtained indirectly through the valuation of the benefits associated with the ecosystem services outlined above. Lehane et al. The small stock of native woodland and lack of management means that the supply chain and market are undeveloped with much sold timber derived from storm-damaged trees.
Native woodland does not remove the risk of flooding, but does have a moderating effect on run-off. Significant economic benefits could be realised through an expansion of the area of native woodland. 2000; Ni Dhubhain et al. [Irish Wildlife Manuals, No 46] Dublin: National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. This sequestration would be worth €100 million per year on the basis of an average CO2 value of €20 per tonne on the European Emissions Trading Scheme or as much as €180 million per year if priced in terms of reduced abatement costs.xv. Howley P, Ryan M, Donoghue CO: Forestry in Ireland: An examination of individuals' preferences and attitudes for the non-market benefits of forests. This scheme has been complemented by other schemes, such as the Woodland Improvement Scheme, which aims to improve the condition of existing woodland for timber output, and the Neighbourwood Scheme, which encourages applications from communities for amenity plantings. 2011; Scarpa et al. viii Figures provided by the Forest Service for 1998-2010. ix Cannell & Milne (1995) estimated total storage for oak woodland at 211 t C ha-1. However, the levels of promotion and financing have been inadequate to foster a coordinated approach. In UK national ecosystem assessment. The objective is to demonstrate that cultural and regulating services, in addition to provisioning services, have an economic value, and that native woodlands are not just of esoteric or conservation interest. An expansion of woodland area should also contribute to the moderation of flood risk as discussed above. Only six of the ten sites were given ratings for public recreation. Invasive alien species are estimated to cost the Northern Irish economy an estimated £46.5million per year. Support for planting broadleaf species has proven to be popular with landowners and local communities for a variety of reasons including amenity, biodiversity and timber production. This paper has summarised the arguments for the protection and expansion of native woodlands. Native woodland makes an important contribution to the Irish landscape.
In addition, much of this area is fragmented and comprised of a narrow range of species. CJC Consulting: Economic benefits of accessible green spaces for physical and mental health. 2009). Many of Ireland's woodlands are now over-mature and vulnerable to storm damage, pests or disease including the recent arrival of ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea T. Kowalski). [http://www.botanicalenvironmental.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Volume-I.pdf]. For example, if 1% of the 34% of Irish people regularly visiting forests (Fitzpatrick Associates 2005) were previously inactive (i.e. In addition, the standard Afforestation Scheme, which is focused on commercial plantings, contains a 10% requirement for broadleaf forest. There is an opportunity to realise significant economic value where concentrated strategic planting can replace the current fragmented wooded landscape with diversity and connectivity. Invasive plant species are a serious problem. 44, S4 (2014). According to Purser et al. Aquatic Ecology 2001, 35: 61–71. IFI: Wild salmon and sea trout statistics report. These benefits, generated by nature, are known as ‘Ecosystem Services’. The targeting of support would ensure that these ecosystem services are accompanied by significant benefits to water quality and management. Ecological Economics 1997.,21(17): Gelan A, Slee B, Brown KM, Shannon P: Examining the commercial potential of recreation on the National Forest Estate in Scotland, Phase 1 Report. Element 1 of the NWS has been suspended even though the problems of invasive species and deer browsing remain as serious as ever. The intention is to demonstrate both the value of the existing area of woodland and to assess the potential benefits of an expansion of native woodland up to an area equal to that of the total current forested area. Such changes include forest plantations comprised of fast-growing non-native species and urban development. Some transfer of recreation from exotic forests might also occur. A lack of primary data on many ecological functions frustrates attempts to translate the benefits of ecosystem services into tangible economic outcomes. Manchester, UK: Regeneris Consulting; 2009. 10.1023/A:1011467711628, Lehane BM, Giller PS, O'Halloran J, Smith CD, Murphy J: Experimental provision of large woody debris in streams as a salmonid management technique.
2011). Phillips (2006) notes that "there is no index" and quotes figures from Carey & O'Connor (2004). 2007; Ni Dhubhain et al.
Correspondence to 697,600 hectares) is forest and 68% of this is occupied by commercial softwood species (Forest Service 2012). In A study of the effects of stream hydrology and water chemistry in forested catchments on fish and macroinvertibrates. However, a large proportion of broadleaf trees have been planted for non-timber purposes (Perrin et al, 2008), so much of this carbon will remain in long-term store. In the UK, a property with an annual 1% risk of flooding has an estimated annual equivalent damage of nearly €100 (Penning-Rowsell et al. The marine and coastal ecosystems around the island of Ireland provide many valuable benefits to the Irish economy and society. In Behavior and the Natural Environment. Jerry Hall is a forester with expertise in native woodlands. Judd S, Rotherham ID: The Phytophagous insect fauna of Rhododendron ponticum L in Britain. 2011). Timber output is not an objective of the majority of native woodland owners, although the current value of fuelwood is an incentive for improved management including the control of invasive species. 10.1002/aqc.516. One third of forest and trail users were found to spend an average of just under €15 per trip, and approximately 5% of these spent €64 when staying overnight (Fitzpatrick Associates 2005). Landscape and Urban Planning 2006, 75: 227–243. This demand has bolstered hardwood prices and has led to an expansion in the fuelwood market from around 60,000 m3 (Blackstock and Binggeli 2000) to 200,000 m3 with an estimated value of €29 million per year (Coford 2011).