National Forest Inventory Republic of Ireland Methodology

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National Forest Inventory Republic of Ireland Methodology National Forest Inventory Republic of Ireland Forest Service THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES & FOOD AN ROINN TALMHAÍOCHTA, ÍASCAIGH AGUS BIA Methodology National Forest Inventory - Republic of Ireland - Methodology Published by: Forest Service An tSeirbhis Foraoise Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Roinn Talmhaíochta, Íascaigh agus Bia Johnstown Castle Estate Eastát Chaisleán Bhaile Sheonach Co. Wexford Co. Loch Garman Ireland Éire ______________________________ To be purchased from the Le ceannach díreach ón *RYHUQPHQW3XEOLFDWLRQV6DOHV2I¿FH 2L¿J'KtROWD)RLOVHDFKiQ5LDOWDLV Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Teach Sun Alliance, Sráid Theach Laighean, Dublin 2 Baile Átha Cliath 2. or by mail order from nó tríd an bpost ó Government Publications, Foilseacháin Rialtais, Postal Trade Section, An Rannóg Post-Tráchta, 51 St. Stephen’s Green, 51 Faiche Stiabhna, Dublin 2 Baile Átha Cliath 2 (Tel: 01 647 6834/35/36/37; (Teil: 01 647 6834/35/36/37; Fax: 01-647 6843) Fax: 01-647 6843) or through any bookseller nó trí aon díoltóir leabhar ______________________________ Price: `10.00 © Government of Ireland, 2007 National Forest Inventory National Forest Inventory Republic of Ireland Methodology Covering the National Forest Inventory, 2004 to 2006. National Forest Inventory The Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is Ireland’s national forest authority. It is responsible for the forestry sector, the administration of forestry grant schemes, forest protection, the control of felling and the promotion and support of forest research. The Forest Service promotes Sustainable Forest Management as a central principle of Irish forest policy, whereby forests are managed to provide economic, social and environmental benefits on a sustainable basis for both current and future generations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Forest Service would like to express its appreciation to all those involved in the completion of the NFI. Sincere thanks are due to all landowners for allowing and facilitating access to their lands during the course of the NFI data collection. Production working group: Dr. Martin Cern´ˇ y and Mr. Radek Russ (IFER Ltd.). Mr. Dominic Joyce, Mr. Christy O’Donovan, Mr. Cormac O’Flynn, Mr. John Redmond and Mr. Mark Twomey (Forest Service). Mr. Niall Farrelly (Teagasc). Editorial working group: Prof. Maarten Nieuwenhuis (University College Dublin), Mr. John Redmond and Mr. Christy O’Donovan (Forest Service). Design and printing: Innovative Print Solutions Ltd.,Tel. 01 460 2100, www.innovativeprint.net National Forest Inventory TABLE OF PERSONNEL Name NFI leader Christy O’Donovan Training Radek Russ (IFER) Niall Farrelly Methodology Martin Cern´ˇ y (IFER) Radek Russ (IFER) Niall Farrelly Dominic Joyce* John Redmond Cormac O’Flynn Christy O’Donovan Mark Twomey Field-work Conor Barry* Colm Brophy* Kenneth Bucke* Niall Farrelly Adrian Hynes* Dominic Joyce* John O’Connor* Cormac O’Flynn Tony Quinn* John Redmond Aran Ryan* Michael Somers* Mark Twomey David Walsh* Validation Petr Blazek (IFER) Mark Twomey Analysis Martin Cern´ˇ y (IFER) Radek Russ (IFER) John Redmond Mark Twomey Christy O’Donovan Results Interpretation John Redmond Gerhardt Gallagher (Forestry Consultant) Christy O’Donovan Mark Twomey Editorial Working Group John Redmond Maarten Nieuwenhuis (UCD) Christy O’Donovan Project Denis Byrne Administration Diarmuid McAree Ronan O’Flaherty Michael Prendergast Seamus Dunne Damien Allen Paul Dunne Philip Carr Karl Coggins *Temporary staff recruited for data collection. i National Forest Inventory ii National Forest Inventory TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Personnel ................................................................................................................................................................i Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................................iii Table of Tables ....................................................................................................................................................................vii Table of Figures ..................................................................................................................................................................vii Chapter 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Information needs............................................................................................................................................................1 1.3 Objectives............................................................................................................................................................................1 1.4 NFI Overview......................................................................................................................................................................2 1.5 Layout of Methodology ................................................................................................................................................3 Section A Selecting and Locating the Sample Points ........................................................................................5 Chapter 2 Overview of NFI Land-Use Classification ............................................................................................7 Chapter 3 Selection of Sample Points ........................................................................................................................8 3.1 Data sources ......................................................................................................................................................................9 3.1.1 Primary dataset......................................................................................................................................................9 3.1.2 Secondary datasets..............................................................................................................................................9 3.2 Land-use types ..................................................................................................................................................................9 3.2.1 Definitions of land-use types used in the NFI ........................................................................................10 3.2.2 Land-use type interpretation procedure ..................................................................................................13 Chapter 4 Preparation for Ground Survey ............................................................................................................14 4.1 Preparation of background maps and information..........................................................................................14 Section B Field Navigation and the Establishment of the Plot Centre ....................................................17 Chapter 5 Establishment of the Plot Centre ........................................................................................................19 5.1 Navigation to ground survey plots ........................................................................................................................19 5.2 Land-use categories......................................................................................................................................................19 5.2.1 Forest ......................................................................................................................................................................19 5.2.2 Forest Open Area................................................................................................................................................20 5.2.3 Non-Forest ............................................................................................................................................................20 5.3 Forest boundary ............................................................................................................................................................20 5.3.1 Identifying the Forest and Forest Open Area boundary ....................................................................23 5.4 Land-use class ................................................................................................................................................................25 5.4.1 Forest ......................................................................................................................................................................25 5.4.2 Forest Open Area................................................................................................................................................26 5.4.3 Non-Forest ............................................................................................................................................................27 5.5 Plot shift and mirage ....................................................................................................................................................28 5.5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................28
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