Links

Links to Organisations, Associations, Government & Timber Information

If any organisation wishes to change the brief text or would prefer not to be listed please contact us. If we have left you out please let us know.
WOODLAND is not responsible for the content of any listed site and does not necessarily endorse all or any views expressed therein.

Owners

Irish Timber Growers Association
The Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) was formed in 1977 to support the development and expansion of private sector forestry in Ireland.

PEFC
PEFC - Ireland administers the PEFC Coucil's schemes in Ireland and promotes sustainable forest management and the use of credibly certified timber and wood-based products.

The PEFC Irish Forest Certification Standard was finalised and approved in October, 2010. The next step is consideration for endorsement by the PEFC Council, probably in late 2011.

CEPF
The Confédération Européenne des Propriétaires Forestiers (CEPF) is a not for profit European umbrella federation of national forest owner associations comprised of 23 members of the EU. It has offices in Brussels and Budapest. Its vision is to enhance the value of private forest properties through sustainable forest management by assisting and strengthening national forest owner organisations in Europe.

Irish Farmers Association
The IFA has a growing farm forestry membership and lobbies for farmer forestry issues.

EUSTAFOR
EUSTAFOR is an association of European State Organisations set up in 2006. Members are mainly the national forest services who own State forestry. The Irish semi-State company, Coillte, is a member.

Timber

Specifying Wood
This site is a guide to designing, detailing and specifying timber and is aimed primarily at architects, engineers, designers, builders, planners, specifiers, students. Anyone with an interest in wood, woodworking and the use of wood will find it helpful. The site is managed by COFORD.

Wood Marketing
The Wood Marketing Federation promotes wood as a renewable, sustainable and versatile natural material.

Timber Frame Manufacturers
Timber frame construction allows for high energy efficiency, significant construction time savings, greater design flexibility and enormous potential to reduce CO2 emissions. This website gives further details as well as links to members of the Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers Association. Woodland hopes to see a significant increase in the use of Irish timber in timber frame construction.

Industry

Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association
IFFPA represents some industry groupings. It is affiliated to the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC).

Confederation of European Paper Industries
The European paper industry is Europe's single largest industrial producer and consumer of energy from renewable resources. The website carries some data and views on the on land use issues such as the competition for land between biofuels and raw material for food, biomass for heating and power and fibre.

Policy, Regulation, Research, Education and Training

Forest Service
Forest Service is the division within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forest policy, regulation, legislation and promotion.

COFORD
Coford is the National Council for Forest Research and Development. COFORD is responsible for the co-ordination of forest research and development in Ireland.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Department has responsibility for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector, including forestry, and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society. Many useful publications are available on the site as well as Press releases.

Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Heritage data is available on two websites www.archaeology.ie and www.npws.ie.

These give heritage information managed by the Department, including information on the Sites and Monuments Record, the Recorded Monuments Record, Monuments in State Care, Natural Heritage Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas (Birds' Directive), Nature Reserves and National Parks. The data comprises the key data sets of the national heritage and would be of interest to researchers, academics, consultants, planners, developers and other such organisation or individuals who are involved in physical change in the landscape in the widest sense.

Further data on architectural heritage is available on www.buildingsofireland.ie.

Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA has responsibility for water, land and air quality. Consultation is required with the EPA on forestry projects in some parts of the country where water quality is a particularly sensitive issue.

European Commission
The European Commission has an evolving position regarding forestry with the role of guiding and coordinating forest policy in Member States so as to achieve common objectives. The EU Forest Action Plan 2007 - 2011 is regarded by the Commission as the centrepiece of that work. This can be viewed at pdf. It is primarily a framework for joint activity and was reviewed in 2009. The Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development has a Forestry section and some interesting publications - see here.

European Forest Institute
EFI, based in Helsinki, promotes, conducts and cooperates in research of forests, forestry and forest products at the pan European level. Ireland is a country member. COFORD, Forest Service, Coillte and UCD are member organisations.

FAO
The FAO is the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations with a mandate of achieving food security for all. It promotes the sustainable management of forests and woodlands both through the development and implementation of criteria and indicators and the identification, testing and promotion of innovative forest management approaches and techniques such as support for model and demonstration forests. This is a good site for students and researchers as well as anyone with an interest in global issues.

Forest Based-Sector Technology Platform [FTP]
In 2004, the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois), the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) set up a Technology Platform for the forest-based sector. This platform aims at defining and implementing the sector’s R&D roadmap for the future and is supported by a wide range of stakeholders. In 2006 it developed a Strategic Research Agenda. The site has some interesting links and has a Strategic Research Agenda for the Irish forest-based sector, although that document seems to have had only indirect input from Irish private owner representatives The site is also worth a look to see what more developed wood economies, such as Finland, consider to be research priorities.

Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests (MCPFE)
The MCPFE is a high-level co-operation of around 46 European countries and the European Community and addresses the most important issues on forests and forestry. It is based on a chain of Ministerial Conferences and follow-up experts meetings. It is a platform of dialogue and for cooperation on policy and science and proceedings are reported on its website which would be of particular interest to policy makers, students and researchers.

PEFC
PEFC is the world's largest forest certification organisation. A draft forest management cerfification standard for Ireland was developed submitted to the PEFC Councill during 2010. It promotes sustainable forest management - environmentally, socially and economically viable management of forests through independent third party forest certification. A draft Irish standard has been developed with a view to endorsement by PEFC in 2011. See PEFC Ireland.

SEAI
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), formerly the Irish Energy Centre, was set up by the Government in 2002 as Ireland's national energy authority. Its mission is to play a leading role in transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices. Its work on renewable energy resources includes promotion of the development of biomass (wood, waste and energy crops).

Society of Irish Foresters
The Society of Irish Foresters is the representative body for professional foresters in Ireland. Our foresters are members. It organises field days each year and publishes a periodical journal "Irish Forestry". A system of Continuous Professional Development is being introduced.

Teagasc
Teagasc is the Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority. It is involved in the promotion and development of farmer forestry and has foresters whose role is to provide educational and training facilities.

University College, Dublin - Forestry
UCD offer the only university forestry course in Ireland.

Other interesting sites

Crann
Crann is Ireland's leading voluntary tree organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of trees, hedgerows and woodlands.. Its role is primarily in the area of public education and awareness as well as promotion and participation in the development of crafts and industries based on the products of Irish woodlands.

Tree Council of Ireland
The Tree Council of Ireland is a voluntary non-governmental organisation which was formed in 1985, to promote the planting, care and conservation of trees in both urban and rural areas. It is the umbrella group for about fifty organisations connected by their appreciation of trees, and it aims to foster a tree and wood culture among Irish people through action and awareness.

Climate Action
World Leaders met in Copenhagen in December, 2009 to discuss a follow-up treaty to the Kyoto Protocol. The EU wants an ambitious, global and comprehensive agreement to prevent the world warming by more than 2ºC, and to ensure that economic growth becomes sustainable. There is a lot of interesting information on the website.

The Irish Statute Book
This website provides comprehensive access to Irish legislation.

Bóthar
Bóthar is a charity specialising in helping poor farmers in Africa and third world countries to help themselves by giving them the gift of livestock. By sending cows, goats, camels, pigs, trees and providing education and veterinary back up Bóthar is tackling poverty and supporting sustainable development. The web site has great ideas for gifts. John Phelan participated in the three day The Miners Way trek in August 2011 to raise funds for Bóthar and 2009's three day trek in the Wicklow Mountains as well as participating in the Lakes and Mountains Trek in Sligo in August 2010.

CELT
The Centre for Environmental Living and Training is based in Scariff, Co. Clare. Its aims are increasing environmental awareness, nature conservation, promoting renewable energy, keeping alive traditional countryside skills and crafts and promoting healthy food production.

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