Results

Table 3.2: Volume (m3) of timber harvested in the Coillte Teo North Mayo forest management unit 2003-2005.

Figure 3.2a: Map showing Coillte Teo North Mayo Forest Management Unit.

Remarks

There is no data available for roundwood harvested in the private sector in the pilot zone. The Forest Service regulate the control of felling nationally by a process of issuing felling licenses, however this does not provide any figures for roundwood harvested. In the absence of data for roundwood harvested in the private sector, discussions with the Forest Service inspector for the pilot zone area concluded that there was no roundwood harvested during 2006 (Kavanagh, 2006). In the survey completed on the forest owners of the FORSEE plots there was no roundwood harvested in any of their forests. The only income generated from timber sales was for firewood production and this amounted to €900 (2 owners) in total for 2005.

The only information available on roundwood harvested in the pilot zone is from the state forestry Coillte Teo. In their North Mayo FMU (forest management unit) it can be seen that there were no 1st thinnings in the period 2003-2005. Lodgepole pine accounts for 70% of the species area in the FMU, reflecting the poor productive capacity of the peat soils and often why it is not economical to thin. The North Mayo FMU is a sensitive natural environment, particularly in relation to fisheries, water quality and the landscape and therefore Coillte manages the majority of area and the pine crops for pulpwood production which can be seen in Table 3.2 where for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, 79%, 99% and 96% respectively of the total volume was harvested as pre-mature clearfells.