Continuous Cover Forestry

Forest Type 10 (FT10)

The aim of Forest Type 10 – Continuous Cover Forestry is to create production forests which are suitably structured to be managed as continuous cover forests from establishment. This silvicultural system improves biodiversity, soil and water quality and the landscape of the forest, while also increasing its climate change resilience to biotic and abiotic challenges while storing carbon in the forest for perpetuity.

The principal aim of the scheme is to increase the area of forests under CCF management systems. In doing so the scheme will fulfil the following objectives:

• To enhance environmental benefits of existing coniferous forests by opening up the canopy and creating new habitats for wildlife
• To create an uneven canopy structure with the aim of producing high-quality, high-value logs
• To promote a more suitable management option in sensitive sites
• To develop skills in continuous cover forestry across the forestry sector to facilitate wider adoption

Further information

• For further details, contact your local Teagasc Forestry Adviser.