30 June 2016

National Conference on Forest Management Certification in Ireland

This conference is organised by Sustainable Forest Management Ireland (SFMI).

Thursday 30 June 2016, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin.

Sustainable Forest Management Ireland, SFMI, the organisation formerly known as FSC Ireland is hosting a national conference on forest management certification in Ireland, on Thursday 30 June 2016, in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

SFMI aims to promote sustainable management of Ireland’s forests through information, advocacy and education on independent forest management certification schemes

This national event will bring together the major players in forest management certification, including representatives of certification schemes, certifying bodies, the Forest Service as well as private growers. Examples of best practice and group certification will also be discussed on the day.

Forest certification has been identified as a potential barrier to mobilisation and sale of timber from the private growers in Ireland and this event will discuss issues and solutions around many aspects of certification.

Who is Sustainable Forest Management Ireland?

SFMI is a non-profit voluntary organisation, whose membership includes organisations such as the IFA, Coillte, Teagasc, UCD, Ecotourism Ireland, Society of Irish Foresters as well as individual members. More details are available at: sfmireland@gmail.com, Twitter feed @irishforestcert

Who should attend?

The conference is aimed at private timber growers, forest owner groups, farmers, forestry companies, state agencies, timber processors, NGOs and all those interested in forest certification.

Agenda (with presentations in PDF format)

9.30	Registration & Coffee
10.00	Introduction	Marie Doyle, UCD
10.10	How certification operates	Steven Meyen, Teagasc
10.30	PEFC in Ireland	William Merivale, PEFC Ireland
10.40	FSC in Ireland	Dr Owen Davies, FSC UK
10.50	The need for certification – view from the processor	Conor McSwiney, GP Wood
11.05	Coffee break
11.30	The need for certification – view from the (international) market	Ronan Haslette, Merenda
11.45	Using Knowledge Transfer Groups to support group certification – a pilot scheme	Karl Coggins, Forest Service (DAFM)
12.05	UKWAS – an opportunity for Ireland? Best practice – operating a group scheme	Ewan McIntosh, Tilhill Forestry
12.30	Discussion panel: Andy Grundy, Soil Association Phil Webb, UK Forest Certification Ltd Ewan McIntosh, Tilhill Forestry Traolach Layton, GP Wood Karl Coggins, DAFM Kevin Donnellan, Coillte	Mary Mulvey, Ecotourism Ireland
1.10	Closing address	Marie Doyle, UCD
1.30	Light lunch

Andrew Doyle TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with speakers and organisers of the National Conference on Forest Management Certification for the Private Grower in Ireland held in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 on Thursday, 30 June 2016 (from l to r): Andy Grundy, Soil Association; Kevin Donnellan, Coillte; John McLoughlin, Society of Irish Foresters; Dr Owen Davies, FSC UK; Marie Doyle, UCD; Ronan Haslette, Merenda; Phil Webb, UK Forest Certification Ltd; Ewan McIntosh, Tilhill Forestry; Andrew Doyle TD; Steven Meyen, Teagasc; Mary Mulvey, Ecotourism Ireland; Karl Coggins, Forest Service (DAFM); William Merivale, PEFC Ireland. Photo: Eoin O’Driscoll.