Thread by @IrelandsEnviro

1/n Hi all @BlueDotWaters here again!
Today we will discuss Forestry Pressures
1/n Forestry is the third most important pressure on #BlueDotWaters
The most common pressures arising from forestry are:
1. Excessive sediment (or soil) inputs
2. Nutrient enrichment
3. Acidification.

2/n Most sediment inputs from forestry occur during forest operations.
These include:
· road construction
· thinning
· clear-felling

3/n Much of the risk of sediment release can be mitigated against by employing good practices such as
· the use of brash matts along machine routes
· planning to avoid wet conditions
· the careful design of forest roads and water crossings,
· the use of sediment traps in drains,

4/n and very importantly.
The creation of appropriate exclusion zones along stream banks and on other sensitive areas of the site, where machine access is prohibited.

5/n Unfortunately, eliminating all sediment release during operations can be difficult, esp. in the case of legacy forests planted in previous decades in inappropriate locations.
Often these were planted right up to the edge of waterbodies, with no setback in unsuitable areas.

6/n We must now deal with these legacy sites.

Why then not simply leave the trees where they are?

Unfortunately, as the trees age, wind-blow (when trees uprooted by wind), becomes an issue particularly on peat soils and can become a source of sediment itself.

7/n Sometimes the best strategy in these locations is to remove the trees via a carefully controlled felling and extraction operation by experienced personnel.

8/n Nutrient enrichment from forestry can occur through a couple of mechanisms.

Young forestry generally does not receive a lot of fertilisers these days, due mainly to the more fertile sites now being planted.

9/n However, during and after clear-fell, the breakdown of brash & needles onsite releases nutrients.

In situations where the site is on peat the drained peat breaks down releasing ammonium

#BlueDotsare sensitive to low levels of nutrients.

10/n Acidification impacts can also occur because of forestry.

The most common way this occurs in Ireland is where forests were planted on peat soils and/or where there is little buffering capacity on certain geology types

11/n While legacy forestry & bad practices can clearly lead to water quality issues, particularly in #BlueDots where forestry is a more prevalent land use, the good news is that DAFM is working closely with @WatersProgramme to phase out issues associated with these legacy sites.

12/n There are several environmentally focused funding schemes proposed under the Forestry Programme 2023-27, which can be very beneficial to water quality.
These include:
· the native woodland conservation scheme
· the agro-forestry scheme

13/n Further schemes will also fund the replacement of conifer stands with native woodland, conversion to continuous cover forestry, and specific works undertake during the forest rotation to improve the environmental profile of the forest.

14/n There are a range of options for planting new native woodlands, under the Afforestation Scheme, including the Forests for Water measure, which promotes the creation of native woodland at key locations for water protection.
For more info click here: gov.ie/en/collection/…

15/n Meanwhile, DAFM’s Felling & Reforestation Policy specifies options for reforestation in sensitive areas, and allowances for permanent forest removal where there are overriding environmental concerns.

16/n The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine is Ireland’s regulatory authority when it comes to forestry.

Key activities, namely afforestation, forest road construction & tree felling (including thinning, clear-felling & subsequent reforestation), require a licence.

17/n You can view DAFM licences here: flv.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie

18/n If you see operations which you suspect are causing impacts to water quality or are in breach of the license issued, you can report it to your Local Authority Environment Section or to DAFM.

However, do so without endangering yourself or others & respecting property rights.

19/n The main message to sum up is we want to see the ‘The right tree in the right place’

This is especially true for #BlueDots

For more info on forestry in Ireland see
gov.ie/en/campaigns/a…