The findings of a five-year research project into biodiversity and Irish plantation forests will be presented at a conference at Portlaoise on October 26-27.
The BIOFOREST project, which ran from 2001 to 2005, was divided into three sub-projects: biodiversity assessment of afforestation sites; assessment of biodiversity at different stages of the forest cycle; investigation of experimental methods to enhance biodiversity in plantation forests.
The work was funded by COFORD, the national council for forest research and development, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The conference will highlight recommendations arising from the results and provide direction for future policy development for forestry in Ireland.
The event will include a demonstration of the BIOFOREST database, a field visit showing biodiversity change through the forest cycle and a conference dinner.
For information email info@coford.ie.
