Forest Management Plan Ballyshannon Forest Forest Code: DL35 Period Covered: 2011 to 2015 FINAL Version 3.0 Forest Manager Kieran Moloney Coillte Victor Company Lurganboy Donegal Town Co. Donegal. Tel.: Fax.: Kieran Moloney Coillte Victor Company Lurganboy Donegal Town Co. Donegal. Tel.: Fax.:
What is this document? The term "Forest Management Plan" (FMP) describes all the site-level plans for the land managed by Coillte. Each site level plan represents the best balance of the social, economic and environmental objectives sought by our shareholders and stakeholders. This document is a summary of the finalised management plans for the forest in question. Please note, however, that due to the unpredictable nature of renewable resource management deviations may occur from this plan and it should be used as a guide only. The glossary of terms for Forest Management Plans would also be useful (see http://www.coillte.ie/coillteforest/plans/district_strategic_plans/glossary/) Introduction There are only six properties that make up the Ballyshannon forest and they are Behy, Cashelard, Coolcholly, Corlea, Derrykillew and Knader, total of 893 hectares. All the properties that make up this forest lay east of the town of Ballyshannon continuing to the border with Fermanagh. There are only minor county roads through this forest hinterland. The present species composition is Sitka spruce 54%, lodgepole pine 22%, other conifer 5%, larch 4%, Scots pine 3%, broadleaves 4% and finally some 8% of the forest is in open space. The main soils are blanket peat, surface bedrock and scattered pockets of metamorphic till. Nature Conservation All riparian zones are being managed for biodiversity allowing native broadleaf to regenerate where appropriate. Where fishery issues are concerned Pettigo forest falls under the jurisdiction of both Bord Iscaigh Réigiúnach an Tuaisceart and Comisiun an Fheabhail, Chairlinn agus Shoilse na heireann. The northern tip of the Cashelard property is in the Lough Golagh and Breesy Hill SAC. The plan is to clear the SAC of conifers and allow it to return to natural habitat. Recreation The properties in this forest are very popular for walkers and pony trekking. Shooting rights have been let to local gun clubs in some of the forest s properties. Security Forest fire plans are in place for this forest. Dumping is a serious problem in all our properties and regular contact is kept with DCC litter wardens and litter is also tidied up at regular interviews. Adjoining land use The land surrounding our properties is mainly hill farming and adjoining private forestry, recreation and hydro power generation. Other comments Lough Assaroe forms the southern extent of this forest. This Lough was formed when the ESB dammed the river Erin back in the 1950 s. The Cliff and Cathleen Falls hydro-electricity power stations are located at the southwestern end of this forest. Coillte s practice is to sell, lease or develop a limited area of non-strategic land, for purposes other than forestry. Most sales are made in response to local demand and typically comprise house sites, isolated dwelling houses, sections of recently acquired farms, small outlying forest properties and gravel pits. The land in Forest Property Corlea (MU MO0123) may be sold or developed for non-forestry purposes during the lifetime of this plan. Although forest management staff will be happy to discuss what they know of the plans for these areas the actual sale, if it proceeds, will be subject to the consultation procedures as detailed in our Stakeholder Consultation Code of Practice http://www.coillte.ie/community/consultation_policy/ (and Coillte's policy on removal of these lands from those covered by our SFM certificate http://www.coillte.ie/businesses/land_development/property_management_policy/?no_cache=1&sword_list%5b%5d=poli CY Page 2 of 17
Forest management Management Approach The main objectives are; timber production 83%, biodiversity 15% and other use 2%. The primarily tree species are Sitka spruce, lodgepole pine, larch and various species of broadleaves. One long term objective to increase broadleaves from 4% to 6%. This forest like all of Coillte forests, is being managed under the principles of sustainable forest management and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Sustainable forest management principles ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability. Reforestation will include Sitka spruce 65%, other conifers 20% and broadleaves 15%. As far as is practical due to soil conditions and topography broadleaves will be planted. Thinning and clearfell At present there are 53 hectares of clear-fells between 2011 and 2015. About 280 hectares of thinnings have been planned for the same period. Replanting All future reforestation will include a minimum of 15% broadleaves and where soils are suitable for the planting of commercial broadleaves. Page 3 of 17
Current forest statistics LAND USE TYPE GROSS AREA (HA) BHF Broadleaf high forest 19 CHF Conifer high forest 612 MHF Mixed conifer & broadleaf HF 55 BLOWN Blown conifer or broadleaf 4 SCRUB B'leaf which cannot grow to HF 6 SWAMP Waterlogged area 13 UNDEV Conifer (YC < 4) 18 WATER Lake, river, resevoir, etc 3 BAREMG Bare marginal (YC < 14 ) 7 BAREPL Bare plantable 21 BAREUP Bare unplantable 48 BURNED Burned conifer or broadleaf 58 FELLED Felled conifer or broadleaf 25 Total gross area (Ha) 888 Page 4 of 17
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Social & Environmental Impact Assessment Coillte's Social and Environmental Impact Assesment (SEIA) is the means by which we document the potential threats to the forest and its environment from our activities or the activities of others and our approach to reducing the risk of damage. We asked for submissions from the public at our pre-planning consultation stage and this is where each issue should be dealt with. In some cases we will not have been able to implement all suggestions in full but you should be able to see the reasons why, in the interests of balance, an alternative course of action was taken. The item labelled 'DSP Ref' refers to a District Strategic Plan which sets in context how Company policy is implemented at ground-level in some of these areas. The District Strategic Plans for each District are found at : http://www.coillte.ie/forests/plans/district_strategic_plans/ Topic: Amenity/Recreation Topic_consultation Breezey Centre Ml Mc Garrigle chairman DSP_ref 3.6.3.6.2 Impact rating LOW Issue details Injury to recreational walkers Dumping in forest Damage to loop walk in Behy property Risk mitigation Maintain hedgerows and forest roads.put signage in place to warn people of dangers of forest operations. Work in partnership with local group to reduce incidences of dumping in area. Facilatate local clean ups in partnership with ESB and local group. Monitor this loop link between old county road and forest road. Topic: Dumping Topic_consultation Donegal County Council Litter warden DSP_ref 3.1.7.6 Impact rating HIGH Issue details Dumping of domestic waste in forest Risk mitigation Coillte security policy to be adhered to. Liase with Donegal Co Co Litter warden in relation to Dumping in forest. Topic: Other Topic_consultation National Parks and Wildlife service SAC Breezy Hill DSP_ref 3.4.1 Impact rating HIGH Issue details Impact on SAC due to operations Risk mitigation Consult with NPWS Topic: Rights of way Topic_consultation John Mc Gonigle 087 7433565 DSP_ref 3.6 Impact rating LOW Issue details Acess interferred with or impeded Risk mitigation Double lock barrier at Knather entrance Page 6 of 17
Topic: Unauthorised land use Topic_consultation Local resident Group Knather and surrounding residents association ( KASRA) DSP_ref 3.6.4.2 Impact rating HIGH Issue details Illegal car rallying, accidents to walkers Risk mitigation Keep barriers closed, report incidents to Gardai Topic: Water quality Topic_consultation Lough Colmkille is a County Council managed water supply for surrounding area. Other lakes in locality used for fishing and managed Issue details by Ballyshannon Angling club. Pollution/siltation as a result of operations DSP_ref 3.1.7.5 Risk mitigation Impact rating HIGH Consult with Northern Region Fisheries Board and Donegal County Council. Page 7 of 17
Forest Management Plan Summary Thinning Thinning, whereby a portion of the trees are removed at successive stages prior to clearfell, is a desirable practice when aiming to grow quality timber. This table shows the maximum total area which may be scheduled for thinning during the period of this plan in each of the Coillte forest properties in this forest. This level of thinning would mark a significant increase over previous years and is purely an indicative, aspirational level. Please note that Coillte forest property names do not always follow townland names or boundaries. Potential thinning areas FOREST PROPERTY THINNING AREA (HA) BEHY 45 CASHELARD 37 COOLCHOLLY 8 CORLEA 6 KNADER 5 Total 100 Page 8 of 17
Management Objective Coillte's estate is managed on a multi-objective basis, where an attempt is made to balance the pursuit of economic returns, environmental protection and enhancement and social returns like landscape protection and employment. Rather than attempting to achieve a perfect balance on every site we recognise that some sites have a greater potential than others in pursuing different objectives. To this end, we nominate a principal objective for each site. This categorisation for this forest is outlined below. Management Objective Biodiversity sub-objective AREA (HA) Biodiversity Habitat protection 115 Conservation 7 Non-forest commercial 2 Timber production 764 Total 888 Page 9 of 17
Constraint or secondary objective This graph shows the forest area categorised by the principal constraint or, in many cases, secondary objective being pursued on each site. MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINT MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE AREA (HA) Fisheries protection Biodiversity 6 None Biodiversity 77 Conservation 2 Non-forest commercial 1 Timber production 705 Old Woodland Site Timber production 58 Potential Sale Non-forest commercial 1 Statutory Designation Biodiversity 32 Wildlife Conservation 6 Total 888 Page 10 of 17
Silvicultural System This graph shows the forest area categorised by the silvicultural system employed on each site. SILVICULTURAL SYSTEM MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE AREA (HA) Clearfell Biodiversity 44 Timber production 764 N/A Biodiversity 71 Conservation 7 Total Non-forest commercial 2 888 Page 11 of 17
Felling areas This graph shows the total area which is scheduled to be felled in each 5 year period shown. This is based on a summation of site-by-site plans where an indicative fell year is given. 2006-2010 AREA (HA) BEHY 45 COOLCHOLLY 7 KNADER 21 Period total: 73 2011-2015 BEHY 37 CASHELARD 51 COOLCHOLLY 14 DERRYKILLEW 4 KNADER 49 Period total: 155 2016-2020 BEHY 12 DERRYKILLEW 8 KNADER 6 Period total: 25 Post 2020 BEHY 158 CASHELARD 210 COOLCHOLLY 18 CORLEA 54 KNADER 115 Period total: 554 Page 12 of 17
Regeneration plans This graph shows the forest area categorised by the method of restocking to be used for each site. Regeneration Method by Currently Forested Area REGENERATION METHOD MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE AREA (HA) No replanting Biodiversity 72 Conservation 6 Non-forest commercial 1 Planting Biodiversity 6 Total Timber production 762 846 Page 13 of 17
Restock 2011-2015 This graph shows the forest area categorised by the species being used in restocking each of the sites being felled during the period 2011-2015. OPEN 45.9 OAK 0.9 SPRUCE 66.1 BEECH 0.0 PINE 16.2 OTHER BROADLEAVES 0.0 SCOTS PINE 2.8 ASH 0.0 LARCH 4.4 BIRCH 0.0 FIR 0.0 ALDER 4.4 OTHER CONIFERS 0.0 TOTAL 140.7 Page 14 of 17
Species diversification This graph shows how the total forest area occupied by different species groupings and open space will develop in this forest over time. This is calculated using the current inventory of what species is growing on each site, when the site will be felled, and what has been chosen as the successor crop in this Forest Management Plan. Year 2008 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Broadleaf Fir Larch Open Other conifers Other vegetation Pine Scrub Spruce Water 0.5 0.2 2.2 0.0 0.0 50.7 20.0 0.3 4.1 21.9 0.5 0.2 2.2 0.0 0.0 50.5 19.4 0.3 4.0 22.0 0.6 0.2 2.6 0.0 0.0 53.8 13.0 0.3 4.0 23.5 0.6 0.2 2.7 0.0 0.0 54.3 13.2 0.3 4.0 23.7 0.6 0.2 2.6 0.0 0.0 53.4 12.6 0.3 4.0 24.2 0.4 0.2 2.8 0.0 0.0 47.0 17.0 0.3 3.7 26.4 0.4 0.1 2.7 0.0 0.0 43.9 15.6 0.3 2.5 27.5 0.5 0.0 2.6 0.0 0.0 46.2 15.3 0.3 2.2 30.1 Page 15 of 17
Crop type diversification Displayed below is a chart showing the development of "crop type" which is a site-by-site categorisation of each Management Unit. For example, a block of forest which is 70% conifer and 30% broadleaf will be reported as "Conifer/Broadleaf mix". Crop type Area (Ha) in each period 2008 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Amenity broadleaf 58.4 58.4 58.4 58.4 58.4 58.4 28.1 28.1 Broadleaf 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 Commercial Conifer 647.0 639.8 628.4 636.6 636.0 643.0 623.3 661.0 General Biodiversity 130.3 130.3 130.3 130.3 128.6 130.3 129.7 128.9 Open 44.9 52.1 63.5 55.2 64.3 55.6 98.6 61.7 Visual Amenity 7.8 7.8 6.7 6.7 7.6 7.6 Total 888.4 888.4 888.4 888.4 888.4 888.4 888.4 888.4 Page 16 of 17
Rural broadband rollout In January 2009 the Irish Government awarded the contract for the National Broadband Scheme to '3 Ireland'. This project aims to provide Ireland with universal broadband coverage by 2010. Coillte is in a position to facilitate this rollout by providing sites. Sites with the potential to contribute to this programme that are located in this forest may be found in the following District Electoral Divisions: DED_NAME BALLYSHANNON URBAN Page 17 of 17