Nicola Arndt und Matthias Pohl - Neobiota

available, in part for social reasons, which resulted in the afforestation of extensive areas of blanket
peats and uplands with monocultures or mixtures of sitka spruce and lodgepole pine. In recent years
there has been a move to plant better quality land as a result of changes in national and EU agricultural
policies, concern at the economic and environmental implications of planting peatlands and
restrictions imposed by the EU Habitats Directive (ANON. 2000b).
Despite the importance of native woodlands and the very small area remaining, protected areas only
represent c. 6.5 % of the total native forest estate and 1.05 % of the total forest estate. Non-protected
stands continue to be under threat, especially from clearance for agriculture and, increasingly, for
building land and infrastructure (STAPLETON et al. 2000). A variety of national and international
legislation places obligations on Ireland to ensure the long-term survival of these forests.
Under the 1992 Convention on Biodiversity Ireland has committed itself to the concept of sustainable
forest management and increasing forest biodiversity (ANON. 1997). Among other things this will
result in an increase in the planting of broadleaf species for improving the landscape, benefits for
wildlife and recreation, as well as for timber production. In recognition of this the present national
policy is to increase broadleaf planting to more than 20 % annually and this will diversify both the
habitat and landscape. Special attention will be given to riparian areas as part of a catchment approach
to improve water quality and habitat for aquatic species, in part to conform to requirements under the
EU Water Framework Directive. While suitable exotic species will continue to be planted much
greater emphasis will be given to planting native species, some of which have received little attention
in the past but which are potentially of considerable value for timber, e.g. birch, alder.
In addition to the above two initiatives, ‘The Peoples Millennium Forest’ and the ‘Native Woodland
Scheme’, have recently been developed to encourage the expansion and restoration of existing stands
of native woodland. These come under the auspices of a newly formed organisation ‘The Woodlands
of Ireland’ (O’REILLY 2000). The objectives of ‘The Woodlands of Ireland’ are:
• To develop strategies aimed at securing the sustainable management of Ireland’s semi-natural
woodlands
• To encourage the restoration of degraded semi-natural woodlands
• To facilitate the establishment of new woodlands consisting of indigenous species from
indigenous sources
• To disseminate information pertaining to theses activities.
The People’s Millennium Forest was established as part of the Millennium celebrations. The project
focuses, inter alia, on the restoration and creation of native woodlands on state or publicly owned land
in 16 sites. The main operations include planting 1.2 million native trees – one for each household in
the country –, fencing against grazing animals, encouraging natural regeneration, removal of invasive
exotics species and the provision of interpretative and recreational facilities.
The Native Woodland Scheme is a longer-term grant-aided project. Its objectives are
• To enable woodland owners to conserve and manage semi-natural native woodlands
• To encourage the creation of new native woodlands
• To aid and promote the sustainability of the national native woodland resource.
The aim of the Native Woodland Scheme is to restore c. 15,000 ha of native woodland and to create
c. 15,000 ha of new native woodland, including riparian woodland. Unlike other forestry schemes,
whose objectives are primarily timber production and where oak and ash are the principal native
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