The conventional approach to management of forests in Ireland typically involves the clearfelling of the final crop when it has reached maturity, followed by replanting and the recommencement of the forest rotation.
Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF), often called “Close to Nature Forestry” provides us with an alternative approach to forest management whereby forests are managed to retain constant cover and woodland condition by removing the timber in stages and avoiding clearfelling. Periodic removal of timber provides the owner with a constant income stream, the timber being essentially the interest on the forest capital. This management approach has the potential to address multi-purpose management objectives such as conservation of biodiversity, sustainable forest management, environmental protection, long-term adaptation to climate change and protection of the ‘Natural Capital’ built up in the forest.
Please contact us if you have any queries on CCF
