These articles are a selection from various sources including our newsletter. You will find new articles here on a regular basis. Click the titles to see the article in full.

Relevant papers in the journal Forestry

Forestry publishes refereed papers on all aspects of research, practice and policy that promote the sustainable development of forests, woodlands and trees. The following two articles are particularly relevant for Pro Silva forestry practitioners. Note that while the abstracts can be viewed, you will either need an electronic subsricption or permission from the authors to access the full version.

The effects of varying deer density on natural regeneration in woodlands in lowland Britain

Pro Silva Ireland Booklet:

This booklet was published by Pro Silva Ireland following the Irish Farmers Association, National Farm Forestry Conference 2006, whihc was held in association with Pro Silva Ireland: download here

Pro Silva Ireland Featured Publication:

Approaches of Continuous Cover Silviculture in Sitka Spruce in Ireland
by Prof. Hans-Jürgen Otto

Prof. Hans-Jürgen Otto is cofounder and former president of Pro Silva Europe. He studied Forestry science at the university of Göttingen, Munich and Nancy. After completing his Doctorate he became a consultant to the ministery of Food , Agriculture and Forestry in Hanover, where he advised on the ecological fundamentals of silviculture, forest protection, planning and research. After qualifying as a university lecturer in 1984 he has taught Forest Ecology at the university of Göttingen and at the University of Tharandt. He has visited many parts of the world in order to further study Forest Ecology.

Prof. Hans-Jürgen Otto has been a guest of Pro Silva Ireland on three occasions.

Irish Farmers Journal Article:

Read this article on Continuous Cover Forestry written by Donal Magner, which included an interview with Paddy Purser and details of previous and upcoming fieldtrips: download here

Pro Silva Europe Convention:

Read all about the Pro Silva Convention 2007 hosted by Pro Silva Ireland in May. The convention was generously supported by COFORD.

See Pro Silva Principles in action:

The following links show silvicultural methods over periods of time. These have been taken from a publication of the Silvicultural Principles of the Kanton Neuenburg in Switzerland: Group Selection Forest and Conversion from a plantation towards Selection System Forestry

Study Tours and Field Trips:

Kylebeg and Ballykilcavan Woods were first visited by Prosilva Ireland in 2002 and are owned by Mr Peter Walsh-Kemmis. Ballykilcavan Wood was revisited in April, 2008 by a group of about 40 members of Prosilva Ireland along with other interested parties. The field day was lead by the Ballykilcavan forest manager and member of Selectfor in the UK, Mr. Huw Denman. Huw was joined by Martijn Boosten, a practitioner of close-to-nature forestry from the Netherlands. 

THREE INTERESTING FIELD DAYS were held in August 2002 in Counties Wicklow, Laois and Clare to look at and discuss sites with a view to their conversion to Continuous Cover Forestry. The following three reports record the sites and discussions during these field days. 

Glencree was the venue for the first field day, where Coillte research and UCD (part funded by Coford) are studying natural regeneration.

Mount Callan in Co. Clare is owned by Robert Tottenham, founder of Pro Silva Ireland and pioneering forester. This field day report gives you the oppertunity to learn about the forests at Mount Callan and the forestry he has been practising there for over five decades!

Glengarrif Woods were visited by Pro Silva Ireland during October, 2003. The Oak woodland of Glengarrif and Killarney were visited, with interesting subjects covered such as Rhododendron eradication. Well worth a read, especially for those with Rhododendron in their forests! 

Thomas Harttung (President of Pro Silva Europe) was our honoured guest for the two field days reported above!

Study Tour of Romania held in 2004 with contributions by Michael Purser, Gionata Spazzi, Ben Jobling Purser, Mickey Gabbett, Brother Anthony Keane. This is a large file (1.9Mb). The article is provided in PDF format only. If you have trouble accessing this article please go to Adobe Reader.

Report on the Pro Silva Ireland and SelectFor study tour to Brittany during May, 2003 with contributions by Brother Athony Keane, Donal O'Hare, Phil Morgan, Huw Denman, John Casey and Morgan Roche.

Report on the tour to Central Jutland during August, 2002, with contributions by Jan Alexander, Joe Doyle, Morgan Roche and G.P.J.Tottenham.

Further articles:

Paddy Purser, director of Purser Tarleton Russell Ltd., forest managers
and industry consultants and a co-founder of Pro Silva Ireland, authored Close To Nature Forest Management, The Way Forward for Irish Forests, which was published in Compass Magazine, the publication of the Garden and Landscape Designers Association. The article is in pdf format and includes photos and references.

What is a natural oak forest? is central to understanding how we can manage this species useinf Pro Silva Principle. Mike Seville (Chairman of UK Continuous Cover Forestry Group) summarises his thoughts on this topic after discussions with Bela Varga, a visiting Hungarian forester.

Transformation thinning in Continuous Cover Forestry is a brief guide written by Mike Seville (Chairman of UK Continuous Cover Forestry Group) on this important topic.

ProSilva: quality management in our forests has been written by Frank Strie along with a number of others based in Tasmania, Australia. This comprehensive introduction to Pro Silva from an Australian perspective is well worth reading for both those new to Pro Silva and those more familiar with its principles.

How can one practice near to nature forestry in Ireland? and
Approaches of Continuous Cover Silviculture in Sitka Spruce in Ireland
by Prof. Hans-Jürgen Otto

Prof. Hans-Jürgen Otto is cofounder and former president of Pro Silva Europe. He studied Forestry science at the university of Göttingen, Munich and Nancy. After completing his Doctorate he became a consultant to the ministery of Food , Agriculture and Forestry in Hanover, where he advised on the ecological fundamentals of silviculture, forest protection, planning and research. After qualifying as a university lecturer in 1984 he has taught Forest Ecology at the university of Göttingen and at the University of Tharandt. He has visited many parts of the world in order to further study Forest Ecology.

Prof. Hans-Jürgen Otto has been a guest of Pro Silva Ireland on three occasions.

Answering the concerns of an environmentalist and
Constraints to Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland
by Morgan Roche

Morgan Roche studied forestry at the University of Freiburg in Germany, where he had the opportunity to learn from leading academics and researchers including Prof. Huss. It was Prof. Huss that guided Morgan through his 'Diplom Arbeit' project, which dealt with effects of chemical weed control methods on Ash here in Ireland. After qualifying Morgan returned here and worked for Woodland Contractors. His next move was to Kerry, where he is developing the potential of an upland forestry estate. He has been active in developing Irish forestry through his involvement in field-trips, seminars and particularly in establishing Pro Silva Ireland.

Intervention costs money!
By Robert Scott

Robert Scott qualifed as a Chartered Surveyor in 1975, and has been the Estate manager to Abercorn Estates since 1977. Based at Baronscourt in Co Tyrone, the Abercorn Estates also include Belle Isle in Co Fermanagh, together with other properties in Argyll, Fife and the Scottish Borders. These properties have approximately 1600 ha of forestry.

Following a Pro-silva Ireland visit to Lower Saxony in September 2001, in which Robert, Lord Hamilton (the Estate owner) James Simpson (the Head Forester) participated, the decision was taken to manage approximately 400 ha of the Baronscourt on a continuous-cover basis.

Robert is presently Chairman of the UK Forestry & Timber Association, the leading representative body for all those involved in the growing and management of trees throughout the UK.

The Role of Mixed Woods in Irish Silviculture
By T. Clear, B.Agr.Sc.