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Edward (Ted) Wilson

Walsh Scholar - Silviculture

Research Interests

I am a silviculturist with interests in tree biology, silvicultural systems and forest conservation.

My previous research has addressed a range of themes and topics in silviculture and sustainable forestry, including seedling quality, species diversification to promote ecological resilience, professional forestry education and the benefits of woodland for public health.

Current Projects

My current research focuses on the early transformation of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations to continuous cover forestry (CCF). CCF is an approach in sustainable forestry that creates permanent, irregular forest structures.

The core of this work is a long-term study called the TranSSFor project:

This aims to compare stand structural development, economic performance, productivity and timber quality under three thinning regimes (low, crown and graduated density).

A related area of research is linked to the development of CCF tree marking prescriptions and training of foresters and woodland owners.

The TranSSFor project forms the basis of a PhD in Forestry at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin (Supervisors: Dr Ian Short (Teagasc) and Dr Áine Ní Dhubháin (UCD)).

Education

  • BMed Sci (Clinical Sciences), University of Sheffield, UK
  • BScF (Forest Science), University of New Brunswick, Canada

Professional Membership

  • Fellow, Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) (elected 2016)
  • Technical Member, Society of Irish Foresters (MSIF)
  • Pro Silva Ireland
  • Canadian Institute of Forestry
  • Royal Forestry Society (Corporate Member)
  • British Ecological Society
  • International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), Research Group: 1.05.00 Uneven-aged Silviculture
  • Wilson, E. R., R. Wirz and L. Byrne. 2021. Continuous cover forestry at Dunranhill Forest, County Wicklow, Ireland. CCFG Newsletter 41 (Winter 2021): 41-48.
  • Wilson, E. R., G. San Martin and G. Ligot. 2020. The Douglas fir needle midge (Contarinia pseudotsugae): a potential threat to Douglas fir in the United Kingdom and Ireland? Quarterly Journal of Forestry 114 (4): 244-250
  • Wilson, E. R. 2020. Why are the forests in the Dublin mountains getting a makeover? RTE Brainstorm. Published online: 6 July 2020. 
  • Wilson, E., Ní Dhubháin, Á. and Short, I. 2020. Transforming Sitka spruce plantations. TResearch 15(1): 32-33.
  • Spazzi, J., O Tuama, P., Wilson, E. and Short, I. 2019. Comparison of three inventory protocols for use in privately-owned plantations under transformation to Continuous Cover Forestry. Irish Forestry 76 (1&2): 8-28.
  • Wilson, E. R., and P. O’Tuama. 2019. Continuing developments for continuous cover forestry. Forestry and Energy Review. 9(2): 30-32.
  • Spazzi, J., E. R. Wilson and I. Short. 2019. Continuous cover forestry. Irish Forestry and Timber Yearbook, 30th Edition. Irish Timber Growers Association, Dalkey, Co Dublin. 200 pp.
  • Leslie, A. D., M. Mencuccini, M. P. Perks and E. R. Wilson. 2019. A review of the suitability of eucalypts for short rotation forestry for energy in the UK. New Forests:   DOI: 10.1007/s11056-019-09717-w
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Přestavby monokultur smrki Sitka na přirodě bližší formy hospodařeni v Irsku. p 36-40 In Bednář, P. (ed.) 2018 Demonstrační objeckty nepasečného hospodaření [Exemplary Forest Units of Uneven-aged Forestry]. Workshop proceedings. 25-26 October 2018, Kocanda District, Czech Republic. Pro Silva Bohemica. 83 pp
  • Wilson, E. R. 2018. Higher education qualifications for professional forestry practice in Britain and Ireland. Forestry Journal 290: (October 2018): 46-48
  • Wilson, E. R., and S. M. Smith. 2018. Emerald ash borer: our “most unwanted”, Toronto’s experience. Forestry Journal 289 (September 2018): 30-32
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Continuous cover forestry: the rise of transformational silviculture. Forestry Journal 288 (August 2018): 38-40
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. The TranSSFor Project: the transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry. CCFG Newsletter 38 (Spring 2018): 91-97
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transforming Sitka spruce plantations to continuous cover forestry. Forestry and Energy Review 8(1): 38-40
  • Wilson, E. R. 2016. Resilient woodlands: meeting the challenges. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 110 (1): 13-17.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2015. Tree marking for pleasure and profit. Woodland Heritage Journal 20: 124-126
    Park, A., K. Puettmann, E. R. Wilson, C. Messier, S. Kames and A. Dhar. 2014. Can boreal and temperate forest management be adapted to the uncertainties of 21st Century climate change? Critical Reviews in Plant Science 33 (4): 251-285 DOI: 10.1080/07352689.2014.858956
  • Van den Berg, A. E., A. Jorgensen and E. R. Wilson. 2014. Evaluating stress relief in urban green and open spaces: does perceived naturalness make a difference? Landscape and Urban Planning 127: 173-181 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.04.012 
  • Wilson, E. R. 2014. Cradle of Forestry in the United States. Woodland Heritage Journal 19: 78-80.
  • Helliwell, D. R., and E. R. Wilson. 2012. Continuous cover forestry in Britain: challenges and opportunities. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 106(3): 214-224
  • Petrokofsky, G., N. D. Brown, G. E. Hemery, S. Woodward, E. R. Wilson, et al. 2010. Identifying high priority questions for policy-relevant research using a participatory process. Forestry doi:10.1093/forestry/cpq018 (July 2010)
  • Leslie, A. D., and E. R. Wilson. 2009. The anatomy of a woodland: stand profile diagrams as an aid to problem-based learning in undergraduate forestry education. Forestry Chronicle 85(5): 725-732
  • Wilson, E. R., and K. J. Smith. 2009. Lyme disease: ecology, epidemiology and prevention. Scottish Forestry 63(2): 3-11
  • Wilson, E. R. 2009. Sustainable forest management in New Brunswick, Canada. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 103(3): 195-204
  • Wilson, E.R., and A.D. Leslie. 2009. Sustainable forest management. Geography Review 22(4): 8-13
  • Wilson, E. R., and A. D. Leslie. 2008. The development of even-aged plantation forests: a field-based practical exercise in forest stand dynamics. Journal of Biological Education 42(4): 170-176
  • Park, A., and E. R. Wilson. 2007. Beautiful plantations: Can intensive silviculture help Canada to fulfil ecological and timber production objectives? Forestry Chronicle 83(6): 825-839
  • Wilson, E. R., J. Murray, I. Ryding and E. Casson-du Mont. 2007. Comparison of three tools for measuring tree diameter in stands of different age and tree size. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 101(4): 267-274
  • Wilson, E. R., K. C. Vitols and A. Park. 2007. Root characteristics and growth potential of container and bare-root seedlings of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) in Ontario, Canada. New Forests 34(2): 163-176
  • Wilson, E. R. 2006. Forest management and conservation in Latvia. Scottish Forestry 60(4): 14-21
  • Leslie, A. D., E. R. Wilson and C. B. Starr. 2006. The current state of professional forestry education in the United Kingdom. International Forestry Review 8(3): 339-349
  • Clark, J. R., and E. R. Wilson. 2005. The importance of plus-tree selection in the improvement of hardwoods. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 99(1): 45-50 [Winner, James Prize, Royal Forestry Society, 2005]
  • Jackson, S. M., F. Pinto, J. R. Malcolm and E. R. Wilson. 2000. A comparison of pre-European settlement (1857) and current (1981-1995) forest composition in central Ontario. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 30: 605-612
  • Wilson, E. R., H. W. McIver and D. C. Malcolm. 1999. Transformation to irregular structure of an upland conifer forest. Forestry Chronicle 75(3): 407-412

Publications are available on ResearchGate.

Additional details

Personal website: http://silviculture.org.uk/transsfor/ 

Directions to his office: Ashtown Food Research Centre.

  • Wilson, E. R., and G. San Martin. 2020. Douglas fir needle midge (Contarinia pseudotsugae): a potential threat to Douglas fir in the UK and Ireland. North West Tree Health Group Meeting [online], Forestry Commission. 9 December 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2020. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Ballycullen, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Silviculture Study Visit, UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin. 13 November 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R., P. O’Tuama, I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2020. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Fossyhill Forest, Co. Laois, Ireland. Silviculture Study Visit, Waterford Institute of Technology. 9 November 2020.
  • Byrne, L., P. Purser and E. Wilson. 2020. Demonstrating the potential of Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland. Forest Workshop, Cloragh Woods, County Wicklow. 23 September 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2020. Tree Marker Training – Early Transformation to Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in Sitka spruce. Course 8. Pro Silva Ireland Training Course. Kilteel Hall and Kilteel Forest, Co Kildare. 16-17 September 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R., and L. Byrne. 2020. Transforming Irish forests. Pro Silva Ireland Webinar. 8 September 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2020. Transformation of planted Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry in Ireland. Continuous Cover Forestry Workshop, Forêt.Nature, Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium. 20 January 2020.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2019. TranSSFor Project: research update. Teagasc Forestry Development Department. Athenry, County Galway, Ireland. 12 December 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2019. The TranSSFor Project – transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry. ESRM Research Conference. University College Dublin. 6 December 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., P. O’Tuama, I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Fossyhill Forest, Co. Laois, Ireland. Silviculture Study Visit, Waterford Institute of Technology. 4 November 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Ballycullen, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Silviculture Study Visit, UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin. 1 November 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2019. Continuous cover forestry – the rise of transformational silviculture in Ireland and the UK. Guest Seminar. Canadian Forest Service. Atlantic Forestry Centre, Fredericton, NB, Canada. 22 October 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2019. The role of thinning in the transformation of planted stands to continuous cover forestry (CCF). Silviculture Seminar. Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada. 22 October 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2019. Forest resilience and the drive to adapt forestry practices in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Current Issues in Forest Conservation Seminar. Master of Forest Conservation Program. John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 21 October 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2019. Continuous cover forestry: transformation of planted forests to irregular structure woodlands. Applied Forest Ecology Seminar. Master of Forest Conservation Program. John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 15 October 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2019. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Fossyhill Forest, Co. Laois, Ireland. Laois Farm Forestry Group. 23 September 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2019. Comparison of three thinning regimes in Sitka spruce stands to promote structural diversity and timber quality. Swiss Forest Lab Summer School, Davos, Switzerland. 18-24 August 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin, P. Purser and P. O’Tuama. 2019. Comparison of three thinning treatments in Sitka spruce stands under transformation to continuous cover forestry, Fossyhill, Co. Laois, Ireland. AGM and Forest Visit. Association of Irish Forestry Consultants. 29 May 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin, P. Purser and P. O’Tuama. 2019. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Ballycullen, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Pro Silva Ireland Open Forest Day. 27 April 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2019. Continuous cover forestry. Invited Lecture, Laois Farm Forestry Group, AGM, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Ireland. 24 January 2019.
  • Ní Dhubháin, Á., and E. R. Wilson. 2019. Alternatives to clearfell. Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), All Ireland Woody Plant Seminar, Armagh, Northern Ireland. 15 January 2019.
  • Wilson, E. R., P. O’Tuama, I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Fossyhill Forest, Co. Laois, Ireland. Silviculture Study Visit, Waterford Institute of Technology. 19 November 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: the TranSSFor thinning study. Knowledge dissemination event, Ballycullen, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Silviculture Study Visit, UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin. 2 November 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transforming Sitka spruce plantations to continuous cover forestry in Ireland. Pro Silva Bohemica Workshop, Exemplary Forest Units of Uneven-aged Forestry within the Forest District of Kocanda, Czech Republic. 25-26 October 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Which tree to cut, which tree to leave? A qualitative analysis of foresters’ decision-making processes in continuous cover forests. Qualitative Research Group Seminar, Teagasc, Ashtown Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland. 20 September 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin, P. Purser and J. Spazzi. 2018. Tree Marker Training for Continuous Cover Forestry. Short Course. Fossyhill Forest, Co Laois, Ireland. 20 June 2018.
  • Wilson, E., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: comparison of three thinning treatments. Conference Poster. National Forestry Conference: The Importance of Forestry in the Bio-economy. Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, Co. Meath, Ireland, 30 May 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Comparison of three thinning treatments in Sitka spruce stands under transformation to continuous cover forestry. State Forest Services Silviculture Working Group, Field Meeting, Fossyhill, Co. Laois, Ireland. 16 May 2018.
  • Wilson, E., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. Transformation of Sitka spruce stands to continuous cover forestry: comparison of three thinning treatments. Conference Poster. Woodlands of Ireland Conference, Delgany, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, 30 April 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short, Á. Ní Dhubháin and P. Purser. 2018. A continuous cover forestry approach to managing productive Sitka spruce stands. University College Dublin, Forests, Climate and Carbon Field Visit, Dooary Forest, Co. Laois, Ireland. 23 March 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R. 2018. Transformation of even-aged conifer stands to continuous cover forests. Guest Lecture. School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland. 30 January 2018.
  • Wilson, E. R., I. Short and Á. Ní Dhubháin. 2017. Thinning your forest: theory and practice. Ballycullen Field Visit, UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD, Dublin, Ireland. 3 November 2017.