Inspiring Advances in the Science and Practice of Forestry

Now in our 23rd year, Silviculture Research International is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of silviculture, especially its application to sustainable forest management and conservation in temperate and boreal regions. Please follow the links for further information:

• Practice – practice information and contact details – link here
• Project – projects, knowledge transfer, articles, presentations, images – link here
• Resources – links to information about forestry and forest conservation – link here
• Latest News – overview of forthcoming and recent activity – link here

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Silviculture Research International is currently delivering projects in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Canada. 

Latest News 

• Our latest article highlights an emerging tree health issue. A summary presentation is here. The Douglas fir needle midge (Contarinia pseudotsugae) is now established in Belgium, Netherlands, France and Germany. It is a potential threat to Douglas fir woodlands in the UK and Ireland.

  The video (below) shows Contarinia pseudotsugae females laying their eggs in an emerging shoot of Douglas fir. After hatching, the larvae cause the formation of galls on the Douglas fir needles, effectively leading to a degree of defoliation. This can be mild or severe depending on the severity of infestation. The genus Contarinia is characterized by the long ovipositor of the females clearly visible on these images. In the last sequence, you can see an egg passing through this ovipositor. Video credit: Gilles San Martin.

  

  Publications:

  • LATEST Wilson, E. R., G. San Martin and G. Ligot. 2020. The Douglas fir needle midge (Contarinia pseudotsugae): a potential threat to Douglas fir in the United Kingdom and Ireland? Quarterly Journal of Forestry 114 (4): 244-250
  • Wilson, E. R. 2020. Why are the forests in the Dublin mountains getting a makeover? RTE Brainstorm. URL: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/ Published online: 6 July 2020.
  • Short, I., and T. Wilson. 2020. Research update: Continuous cover forestry research. Teagasc Advisory Newsletter: Forestry. June 2020. 4 pp. 
  • Wilson, E. R. 2020. Book review: Savill, P.S. 2019. The Silviculture of Trees Used in British Forestry, 3rd Edition. CABI, Wallingford. 384 pp. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 114 (2): 140.
  • Wilson, E., Á. Ní Dhubháin and I. Short. 2020. Transforming Sitka spruce plantations. TResearch 15(1) (Spring 2020): 32-33.
  • Wilson, E. R., P. O’Tuama and J. Spazzi. 2020. Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland: update on recent developments and initiatives. CCFG Newsletter 41 (Winter 2020): 71-77.
  • more 

• Technical and Scientific Presentations:

  • Wilson, E. R., and G. San Martin. 2020. Douglas fir needle midge (Contarinia pseudotsugae): a potential threat to Douglas fir in the UK and Ireland. North West Tree Health Group Meeting [online], Forestry Commission. 9 December 2020. 
  • Wilson, E. R., and L. Byrne. 2020. Transforming Irish forests. Pro Silva Ireland Webinar. 8 September 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2020. Continuous cover forestry research in Ireland: preliminary results. Continuous Cover Forestry Workshop, Forêt.Nature, Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium. 20 January 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2019. TranSSFor Project: research update. Teagasc Forestry Development Department. Athenry, County Galway, Ireland. 12 December 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2019. The TranSSFor Project – Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry. ESRM Research Conference, University College Dublin. 6 December 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2019. Continuous cover forestry – the rise of transformational silviculture in Ireland and the UK. Guest Seminar. Canadian Forest Service. Atlantic Forestry Centre, Fredericton, NB, Canada. 22 October 2019.
  • more

• Training and Professional Development Courses:

  • Demonstrating the potential of Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland. Forest Workshop, Cloragh Woods, County Wicklow. 23 September 2020.
  • Tree Marker Training – Early Transformation to Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Sitka spruce. Course 8. Pro Silva Ireland Training Course. Kilteel Hall and Kilteel Forest, Co Kildare. 16-17 September 2020.
  • Continuous Cover Forestry: Managing for Timber and Biodiversity. 1-day Training Course. Coillte. Donadea Forest Park, County Kildare, Ireland. 26 September 2019.
  • Continuous Cover Forestry: Managing for Timber and Biodiversity. 1-day Training Course. Coillte. Donadea Forest Park, County Kildare, Ireland. 25 September 2019.  
  • more

• Media: 

  • Irish Farmers Journal – Continuous Cover Forestry Revisited, by Donal Magner, Irish Farmers Journal, 31 October 2020 
  • Irish Examiner – Project aims to improve resilience and quality of Sitka spruce forests, Agribusiness section, Irish Examiner, 23 July 2020
  • Carbon Brief – In-depth Q&A: How will tree planting help the UK meet its climate goals? Carbon Brief, 18 March 2020. 
  • Pro Silva Ireland presents continuous cover forestry as a crucial response to the urgent threat of climate change to the Joint Committee on Action in the Dail – Pro Silva Ireland, 12 December 2019.
  • Teagasc promotes Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland – Pro Silva Ireland, 29 July 2019.
  • Pro Silva Ireland supporting early career professionals – Pro Silva Ireland, 26 July 2019.
  • Guest and invited lectures announced for University of Toronto and University of New Brunswick, Canada, October 2019. 
  • Early Stages of Transformation to Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Farm Forest conifer plantations – Pro Silva Ireland, 12 June 2019.
  • Pro Silva Ireland Open Forest Day at TranSSFor Ballycullen Forest, 27 April 2019. 
  • First two Pro Silva Ireland Continuous Cover Forestry Training Days a Success – Pro Silva Ireland, 3 April 2019.
  • more

• Events:

  • Transforming Irish Forests, a Pro Silva Ireland Online Meeting, 8 September 2020. Full information here.
  • TranSSFor – Update on Research in Continuous Cover Forestry. Forestry Development Department Research Day. Oak Park, Co. Carlow. 16 October 2019. [view pdf]  
  • Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to CCF: Fossyhill Thinning Study. Laois Farm Forestry Group, Forest Visit. Fossyhill, Co. Laois. 23 September 2019.
  • Forest Resilience Advanced Summer School. Swiss Forest Lab. Davos, Switzerland. 18-24 August 2019. 
  • Silviculture Training Plots for Continuous Cover Forestry: the Irish Marteloscope Programme. Joint Teagasc/ISN/EFI Meeting. Carlow and Ashtown, Ireland. 14-15 February 2019.  

• In the Community: 

  • Wilson, E. R. 2019. Remarkable Trees and Forests of Cumbria. U3A West Lakes, Public Hall, Gosforth, Cumbria. 19 December 2019. A NATURE OF CUMBRIA TALK
  • more

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