BOGFOR IV
2003-2006
A Research Programme to develop a forest resource on industrial cutaway peatland in the midlands
BOGFOR Publications & Ouputs
Sponsors
BOGFOR IV Poster
Objectives and Targets
The main objective of the BOGFOR project is to
maximise the forestry potential of industrial cutaway peatlands. The main
goals are:
-to improve existing crops
-to maximise site productivity for
future crops
The ultimate objective is to produce a final report which will be a set of Guidelines or a Manual for best forestry practices on the cutaway peatlands. It should contain an account of the problematic factors involved in the afforestation on cutaway peatlands and solutions to these problems by presenting results from the research carried out throughout the various tasks of the project. This research spreads from climatic conditions, to soil moisture regime, soil nutrient regime, tree nutrition, vegetation competition and the suitability and performance of different species or mixture of species.
While some tasks will be ending in May 2003, reports
will be published showing primary results for the work carried so far.
These reports will be related to the following subjects:
-A
vegetation report: including a study on specific species such as Juncus
and the use of mechanical control.
-A
frost study report:
-Modelling
late spring frost in the Irish midlands: a frost frequency analysis
-Modelling
frost risk with special reference to the protection of Picea Sitchensis
in the Irish Midlands
-A
report on the aerial fertilisation of 10-year old cutaway peatland
forests: tree response and environmental appraisal.
Some
of the tasks ending in May have some on-going work to be carried out in
the new project but it has been integrated into the remaining four tasks
(Task 1, 5, 7 and 16).
Description of the Research Work for the period
May 2003-Dec 2005
BOGFOR Senior Committee: Florence Renou (Project Manager), Prof. E. P. Farrell (Project Leader), Dr. Michael Keane (Coillte), Mr. Gerry McNally (Bord na Mona), Mr. John O'Sullivan (Coillte).
Task
1: Project Management
Data management
Day to day site monitoring
GIS mapping
Dissemination of information:
Frost and vegetation report
Guidelines for reconstitution areas
Internal progress reports
Final report
Task
5: Species and cultivation trials (includes all the recon areas and demo
areas)
Maintenance (monitoring, cleaning,
fence repairing, fertilising)
Tree assessment (202ha) and report
Report on overall performance and
species suitability related to edaphic and environmental conditions
Task 7: Fertiliser trials (includes parts of Tasks
6, 12, 14, 18)
Task 16: Pest control management
Report from field visits with experts
Task 17: Ecology of birch PhD study (funded by Bord na Móna)
Seedling
and glasshouse experiment together with field survey for biodiversity
Final
report on the ecology of birch to be delivered to Bord na Móna
