Forestry Now

IPlan and Certification for Forest Owners with Kathleen Lucey

Dermot McNally — Mon, 25 May 2026 06:11:00 +0100

Today I speak with Kathleen Lucey who works with the Irish Forest Owners. The IFO support and represent forest owners across Ireland through a vibrant producer group network. In this interview we focus on Kathleen's role as Group Certification Manager at the IFO. We discuss the background to getting a forest certified under FSC and PEFC, the benefits, the costs, the ongoing management requirements, the Irish Governments new IPLAN system and everything in between.

Key Points:

The new I-Plan system - a game changer for private forest management in Ireland.
Steps in creating a management plan.
Forest certification standards (FSC and PEFC).
Benefits and costs of group certification for private owners.
Group certification scheme advantages.
Scenarios to consider for forest owners.

Quotes:

"The I-Plan standardises forest management plans"
On the I-Plan Grant for Forest Management Plans: "it will go a long way towards covering the cost of your forester producing that. So that's been a game changer."
"Stakeholder engagement is a key part of the process"

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Follow the Guest on:
Kathleen Lucey on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-lucey-015780b/

Website of the Irish Forest Owners https://irishforestowners.com/

Certification at the IFO: https://irishforestowners.com/resource/certification/

Details on the IPLAN scheme https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/grants/iplan-scheme/
FSC - Forest Stewardship Council - https://fsc.org/en

PEFC - Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification https://www.pefc.org/

The Pilot Study on Group Certification in Ireland https://www.groupcertification.ie/

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Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/
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Contact Dermot:
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/

Chapters:

Biomass, Renewable Heat and Nuffield 2026

Dermot McNally — Mon, 11 May 2026 06:30:00 +0100

Today I speak with Kenny McCauley from McCauley Wood Fuels Ltd who are based near Mohill in Co Leitrim. The business processes around 500 tonnes of wood biomass weekly to create high quality, moisture controlled wood chip. In this conversation Kenny explains how his business works, how biomass forms a vital cog in the Irish forestry supply chain, how wood chip is replacing fossil fuels across Ireland and how Leitrim can be a centre of excellence for balanced forestry. He also details the processing system he uses including the machinery and technology involved. Finally Kenny has recently started on his journey as a Nuffield Scholar for 2026. So we discuss what Nuffield involves and his study topic itself which is: “Mobilising rural biomass: unlocking renewable heat, carbon storage and bioeconomy value from farm forest resources.”

Key Points:

Firewood to biomass - transitioning his business and partnership with Arigna Fuels
Partnerships with suppliers and early customers proved critical in enabling the business to grow.
Quality control of both inward raw materials and finished product remains key.
Biomass is a cost effective source of heating for large users such as poultry, pig, and mushroom farms, as well as hotels.
Leitrim's potential as an economic driver through a balanced forestry model.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland offer the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat which aids large users transition away from fossil fuels.
Kenny's journey with Nuffield will give him an opportunity to understand best practice worldwide and emerging opportunities.

Quotes:

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Follow the Guest on:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennymccauley/
McCauley Wood Fuels Ltd: https://www.facebook.com/McCauleyWoodFuels/
Nuffield Ireland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuffield-ireland/
Kennys profile on Nuffield: https://nuffield.ie/scholar/kenny-mccauley/
Wood Fuel Quality Assurance: https://www.wfqa.org/
Irish BioEnergy Association: https://irbea.org/
Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SEAI): https://www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants/support-scheme-renewable-heat
Arigna Fuels: https://arignafuels.ie/

Contact Dermot:
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/

Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:07 - Transitioning from the firewood business to biomass wood chip production.
00:04:02 - Target markets including the agri-sector, poultry, and hotels.
00:07:04 - Managing target moisture content and the shift to mechanical drying.
00:10:09 - The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) and comparing fuel costs.
00:12:45 - Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme (WFQA) certification and sustainability audits.
00:16:53 - Raw material sourcing and mixing different timber species like Sitka spruce.
00:19:44 - Load contamination and the air-drying performance of straight versus crooked wood.
00:23:43 - Yard storage constraints, logistics, and processing material on forest sites.
00:29:18 - Timing the mechanical drying process to match boiler fuel demand.
00:32:35 - Using an internal biomass boiler to reduce mechanical drying energy costs.
00:34:53 - Transport logistics and the delivery radius for dry wood chip versus fresh pulp.
00:36:46 - Capacity bottlenecks, processing speeds, and future business growth.
00:40:02 - Kenny's Nuffield Scholarship on mobilizing forest biomass and the rural economy.

Ireland's Native Woodlands with Joe Gowran

Dermot McNally — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this conversation I speak with Joe Gowran from Woodlands of Ireland about our native forests - Joe has a deep understanding of the history, ecology and management of these woodlands and so we touch on all of this. We discuss positive initiatives to expand and protect these woodlands as well as regulatory hurdles and contradictions that are preventing more progress. Lastly Joe gives me an overview of the training initiatives Woodlands of Ireland are involved in to improve forestry education for the future.

Key Points:

Ecosystem services provided by native woodlands
Threats to native woodlands: deer, invasive species, land use change
Management practices for biodiversity and carbon storage
Historical land use and deforestation patterns
Native woodland management and ecosystem services
Policy contradictions and land use conflicts
Training and capacity building in forestry
Native woodland conservation schemes and funding

Quotes:

"Land use impacts water quality and ecosystem health..."
"Land clearance increased during the Cromwellian era..."
"Active management is essential for woodland health..."

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Contact Dermot: forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Sponsor Link: www.forestsales.ie

Links:

Woodlands of Ireland: https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/

Joe Gowran on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gowran-55126a154/
Native Forest Funding Schemes in Ireland: https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/grants/native-forest-framework/

The Native Woodland Conservation Scheme: https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/grants/native-woodland-conservation-scheme-2023-2027/
A Guide to Native Riparian Woodlands - https://www.woodlandsofireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/No.-4-Riparian-Woodlands.pdf

Irish Forestry Programme Mid Term Review - https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/e8b56d54/Mid-Term_Review_of_the_Forestry_Programme_2023-2027.pdf

Inland Fisheries Ireland - https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/

Sponsorship.

A final thanks to Paul at forestSales.ie for his sponsorship of the podcast and for agreeing to be one of my earliest guests. If you're interested in sponsoring the podcast please do get in touch. Forestry Now has listeners in over 50 countries and is available on all the main podcast platforms. It's also promoted using short video clips on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram allowing advertisers to maximise the opportunities for exposure. Single episode, series and guest sponsorship options are available.

Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:10 - The ecological importance of native woodlands.

00:03:04 - Correlation between woodland age, management and structural diversity.

00:05:04 - A historical deforstation in Ireland.

00:09:38 - Ongoing threats to native woodlands.

00:13:28 - Native Woodland Conservation Scheme.

00:18:33 - Balancing planting setbacks along waterways.

00:20:46 - The scramble for land in Ireland.

00:23:38 - Getting grant aid for restoration planting.

00:26:35 - Pioneer species for nature restoration.

00:28:50 - The Native and Semi-Natural Woodland Operative Skills Training Pilot.

00:33:10 - Future forestry education.

Barriers to Afforestation in Ireland with Dr. Laqiqige Zhu.

Dermot McNally — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0100

"I'd die for this piece of land. It’s ingrained in me so much. My DNA, our fields have all names and stories."

Ireland is trying to increase it's forest cover from 12% but Irish farmers are very reluctant to plant their land. To understand why I speak with Dr. Laqiqige Zhu (Zhula) from Trinity College Dublin. She shares key findings from her extensive research into why Irish farmers hesitate to commit to afforestation, despite strong financial incentives. Drawing on her surveys and in-depth interviews with farmers, Zhula explains how Irish landowners aren't anti-forestry but that the state must do much more to convince farmers to plant. The discussion reveals insights into farming identity, community influence, loss of trust in the Forestry Service and why many farmers simply choose to “wait” rather than plant now. Zhula also shares grounds for optimism as many farmers express a strong desire to be involved in climate solutions, especially if payment for ecosystem services become available.

Key Points:

Farmers are making rational decisions within a system that currently rewards flexibility, certainty, and short-term returns over long-term environmental benefits.
Forestry is seen as a permanent, restrictive, irreversibly land use.
Long timeframes, policy changes, and financial risks add uncertainty.
Alternative land uses like leasing offer more flexibility, control and short-term returns.
Farmers want to be involved in the solutions and are keenly awaiting how carbon credits and payments for ecosystem services evolve.

Quotes from Interviews with Farmers:

"Land rental and the income from land rental is income tax exempt.... that’s actually killing forestry in a way."
One farmer speaking about a new afforestation application - "They're afraid I'm going to plant at the road..... everyone objects, it's a kind of natural pastime for us here..."
"The premium is not index-linked, so inflation reduces its value."
Another farmer replied - "What you’re doing to the future generations is dictating to them that the land is in forestry."

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Contact Dermot: forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Sponsor Link: www.forestsales.ie

Links:

Dr Laqiqige Zhu (Zhula) on Linkedin.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laqiqige-zhu-281602b5/
The Forest Multidisciplinary Project at TCD
https://www.tcd.ie/trinityhaus/research-areas/climate-action-and-sustainability/forest/
Links to some of Zhula's research (co written by Martha O'Hagan-Luff).
Valuing the Invaluable, a review of economic valuations of forest biodiversity
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221204162600015X
Investigating barriers to afforestation in Ireland: Insights from a choice experiment survey
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389934125002667

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Forestry and Research Context

01:18 Understanding Farmers' Reluctance to Afforestation

03:22 Irreversibility: Farmers' Concerns and Perspectives

11:33 Uncertainty in Afforestation Decisions

20:31 Flexibility and Alternative Land Uses

27:41 Future Opportunities: Ecosystem Payments and Biodiversity

34:43 Policy Implications and Recommendations

How Forestry Lost the PR Battle with Peter Hasulyó

Dermot McNally — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:45:00 +0100

In this episode, I speak with forestry engineer and analyst Peter Hasulyó about one of the sector’s biggest blind spots: communication. Despite decades of progress in sustainable forest management, the forestry industry has struggled to win public trust.

Peter explains how a lack of proactive storytelling allowed others to shape the narrative—often inaccurately—leading to confusion between sustainable forestry and deforestation. The discussion explores why perception matters as much as practice, how NGOs filled the communication gap, and why forestry must rethink how it engages with the public.

We also examine real-world consequences of this PR failure, including regulatory pressure, declining trust, and misunderstandings about timber production, clear-felling, and plantations.

Key Topics Covered

Why forestry lost the public perception battle.
The communication gap and its consequences.
Clear-felling vs deforestation: why the public confuses them.
Forestry as an “open factory”
The role of NGOs and how emotional storytelling beats data.
Why timber production is misunderstood—but essential.
Plantation forestry vs nature conservation.
Historical mistakes and their lasting reputational impact.
Regulation (EUDR) as a consequence of lost trust.
How the industry can rebuild credibility.

Quotes:
"NGOs filled the storytelling gap about forestry."
"We gave them FSC labels. They (NGO's) gave them baby orangutans. We lost."
"An open factory approach can help educate the public.."
"If you don't cut wood locally and source it sustainably, it's going to be sourced from somewhere else in the world, which doesn't have as strict regulation..."

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forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com

Links:

Peter on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterhasulyo/

The Forestry Brief

https://forestrybrief.com/
The PR Battle Forestry Never Fought
https://www.fordaq.com/news/The_PR_battle_forestry_never_111884.html

WWF Hungary
https://wwf.hu/

Chapters
[0:00:00] – Introduction to Forestry Now and Peter Hoshu
Dermot McNally opens the Forestry Now podcast, introducing the show’s focus on profitable, sustainable forest management and his guest, Peter Hoshu, a licensed forest engineer and founder of Forestry Brief, a European forestry intelligence and newsletter service.

[0:01:14] – What Is Forestry Brief and the European Forestry Pulse?
Peter outlines Forestry Brief as an evolving intelligence service built around his twice‑weekly newsletter, the European Forestry Pulse, which tracks developments in European forestry alongside key trends in North America.

[0:01:48] – The PR Battle Forestry Never Fought
Dermot introduces Peter’s article, “The PR Battle Forestry Never Fought,” and asks why a renewable, carbon‑storing sector lost the perception battle in the 1990s, with Peter arguing that forestry failed to explain its work and impact to the public.

[0:02:29] – Communication Vacuum and Storytelling Power
Peter explains how foresters assumed “sustainability would speak for itself,” leaving a communication vacuum that was filled by others; he stresses that in a media‑driven world it’s not enough to be sustainable, you must also be perceived as such through clear value‑driven communication.

[0:04:16] – How NGOs Won Hearts with Emotion, Not Data
Peter describes how nature NGOs, often founded or staffed by journalists, excel at emotional storytelling rather than technical explanations, using simple, visceral narratives that resonate far more than yield tables, certifications, or Excel‑driven arguments from the forestry side.

[0:06:22] – Greenpeace, Baby Orangutans, and Media Optics
Using Greenpeace as an example, Peter contrasts powerful visuals—such as activists confronting whalers or orphaned orangutans losing habitat—with forestry’s dry imagery of labels and tables, noting how these emotionally charged images shape public perception even when contexts differ between places like Borneo and Europe.

[0:07:23] – Clearfelling vs. Deforestation: Same Image, Different Reality
Peter explains how the public often conflates clear‑cut harvesting with deforestation because the initial image—a “scarred” landscape—is identical, and argues that foresters failed to communicate what happens next: replanting, regrowth, and the emergence of a new forest over subsequent decades.

[0:09:24] – The Open Factory and the “Dead Forest” Concept
Building on Dermot’s point about shocking clear‑fell images, Peter introduces forests as an “open factory” that the public can walk into, and explains his “dead forest” idea: harvested timber as the indispensable, often invisible counterpart to the “living forest” that provides everyday products like furniture, houses, and packaging.

[0:11:23] – Long Rotations, EV Analogies, and Global Leakage
Peter highlights how long rotation cycles (30–100+ years) are hard for the public to grasp, and warns that if societies refuse local harvesting while still consuming wood, demand will simply shift abroad to regions with weaker regulations—similar to electric vehicles outsourcing environmental impacts to poorly regulated mining regions.

[0:14:53] – Historical Legacies and Mis‑Planted Forests in Hungary
Prompted by Irish and UK planting mistakes on deep peat, Peter outlines Hungary’s history: massive forest loss after World War I, socialist‑era expansion of low‑quality and sometimes unsuitable stands (including conifers), and today’s twin pressures of climate change and desertification on these legacy plantations.

[0:22:36] – Rewetting the Great Plain and Cross‑Sector Cooperation
Peter describes Hungary’s mixed response of species change, mandatory reforestation, and efforts to re‑wet former wetlands on the Great Plain, noting the need for cooperation between forestry, agriculture, and nature conservation to reverse decades of drainage and prevent large‑scale forest dieback.

[0:24:58] – Why Forestry Under‑Invested in Professional PR
Dermot asks why the sector didn’t hire communicators sooner, and Peter says many in forestry believed a “good product sells itself,” overestimating the persuasive power of data and underestimating how crucial story, context, and perception are in maintaining public trust.

[0:26:06] – Avoiding Greenwashing by Owning Imperfection
On fears of being accused of greenwashing, Peter suggests starting with honesty—admitting mistakes and limits—then working with conservationists and professional communicators to tell balanced stories about both timber production and nature conservation, rather than treating critics solely as adversaries.

[0:27:56] – Collaboration Within Forestry and with NGOs
Peter notes positive joint projects with WWF and others in Hungary and Bulgaria, but emphasizes that the bigger challenge is fragmentation within forestry itself; he argues every forester is effectively a PR person and calls for shared narratives, training, and coordinated messaging across small owners and companies.

[0:29:47] – EU Deforestation Regulation as the Price of Lost Trust
Turning to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Peter frames it as a tangible consequence of lost public trust: when voters and policymakers don’t understand sustainable forestry, they default to hig...

Where Farming Meets Forestry - with Andy Dunne

Dermot McNally — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Today I speak with Andy Dunne. Andy's an agricultural consultant based in Portlaoise, Ireland. He's also a forest owner and a member of the Laois Offaly Farm Forestry Group. Andy explains how he manages his own forest and his experience working with adjoining forest owners using a Continuous Cover Forestry approach.
Then we talk about his role as an Agricultural Consultant and his experience advising farmers on their options under the current forestry programme. He highlights the way forestry has been marginalised outside of farming and how this affects the attitudes of land holders to it. Finally he explains with clear examples how current restrictions around afforestation rarely result in the best outcome for nature.

Key Points:
How Andy made the decision to plant land and why it worked for him.
Collaborative forestry management including approaches to roads and felling licences.
State support (or lack thereof) and lack of a holistic created siloed thinking between farming and forestry.
Encouraging landowners to plant given regulations and land designations.
Recognising the inevitable environmental trade offs inherent with the Irish forestry system.
Impact of designations on current land value.
Shifting attitudes towards forestry.

Quotes:
"When I planted it was simple - it's not simple anymore..."

"If we integrate (forestry) at an institutional level, we start to get the farmer integrating his thinking around it as well."

"If you impose any burden, and a designation (environmental) is a burden... it's restricting what you can and can't do with the land... it will affect the value."
"The dairy farmer up the road will reclaim it for me, and he'll give me 350 euros an acre for it..."

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forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com

Links:

Andy Dunne's Agri Consultants: https://www.facebook.com/eaecltd/

Andy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andy-dunne-72b07718Andy's profile at the Agricultural Consultants' Association

https://aca.ie/andy-dunne/

Farm Forest Season 2 Episode 5 - Andy Dunne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ELMJDC3Mc4

Chapters:
[0:00:00] – Agricultural consultancy and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on his home farm.

[0:03:34] – Collaborative Management with Adjoining Owners.

[0:05:37] – Shared Infrastructure and Rights of Way.

[0:07:45] – Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) and Wind Stability.

[0:11:35] – Storm Impacts and Species Suitability.

[0:15:18] – Administrative Challenges for Small Owners.

[0:20:37] – The Marginalization of Forestry in Farming.

[0:22:38] – Integrating Forestry as a Farm Enterprise.

[0:30:40] – Bureaucratic Hurdles and Environmental Screening.

[0:37:12] – Valuing Ecosystem Services, Land Value and "Payment for Environmental Services" (PES).

Community and Conservation: A New Approach to Forestry

Dermot McNally — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In this conversation, I speak with Ray Ó Foghlú - Ray is Development Lead at Hometree, a nature restoration charity with a strong focus on woodlands based in Co Clare, Ireland. We discuss the organization's role in landscape level projects such as the Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project and the Iveragh Woodland EIP (European Innovation Partnership) in Kerry. Ray discusses bureaucratic challenges in Irish forestry and the need for supportive agricultural policies that empower farmers while also facilitating nature restoration. Ray sets out a clear vision of how we can create vibrant rural communities that value both food production and ecosystem services.

Reference is made in the podcast to SAC's which are Special Areas of Conservation and also to SPA's or Special Protection Areas.

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Other Links:
Ray on Linkedin
linkedin.com/in/ray-ó-foghlú-24923a70
Ray writing on The Journal
https://www.thejournal.ie/author/ray-Ó-foghlú/6649/
Ray writing in the Farmers Journal
https://www.farmersjournal.ie/news/opinion/opinion-rural-ireland-s-future-depends-on-homes-for-young-people-893508
Links to Hometree's website and social media.https://www.hometree.ie/
https://www.instagram.com/hometreecharity/
https://www.facebook.com/hometreecharity/

Sponsor Link
www.forestsales.ie

Contact Dermot
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com

Key Points

Hometree focuses on native woodlands and community engagement. The organization aims to restore 57,500 acres in the next 10 years in the next 10 years through projects such as the Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project.
Ray explains why farmers are often cautious about permanent land use changes and why they often feel let down. Financial incentives are essential for farmer engagement and he suggests how we can make these better for both farmers and nature.
He explains in depth how the Iveragh Woodland EIP aims to create woodlands in Kerry.
Ray outlines why policy changes are needed to support nature restoration efforts such as those that dictate elevation restrictions and levels of bare rock on afforestation sites.
Ray explains how the future of farming must include ecosystem services and technology.
Ray gives his opinion on clearfell as a management technique and addresses criticisms of Sitka Spruce .

Quotes:
"We're not here just to look good, we want to have real tangible impact."
"We need to capture that sentiment." (In relation to initial farmer enthusiasm for afforestation)
"You need to take a cap off what they (farmers) can earn for the environment!"
"Clearfell can be done sensitively."
"The future is rural!"

[0:00:00] – Introduction to Hometree and Nature Restoration
[0:03:19] – Ambitious Restoration Targets and Strategic Pillars
[0:05:45] – The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project and Farmer Engagement
[0:09:12] – Perceptions of Forestry and Bureaucratic Hurdles
[0:13:58] – Silvicultural Mindsets vs. Nature-Based Solutions
[0:16:15] – Strategies for Woodland Conservation and Fencing
[0:20:07] – The Iveragh Woodlands EIP: Upland Challenges
[0:24:28] – Innovative Payments and Results-Based Scoring
[0:26:59] – Landscape-Level Deer Management and Technology
[0:28:57] – De-risking Policy: EIPs vs. National Schemes
[0:36:32] – Valuing Ecosystem Services and Rural Succession
[0:42:07] – Forestry Diversity and Rethinking Monocultures
[0:44:19] – Clearfell Mitigation and Peatland Restoration

Farming in an Irish Forest with Brendan Guinan

Dermot McNally — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:12:00 +0000

In this podcast I speak to Brendan Guinan of Fiorbhia farm about what happened when he sold his hazardous waste business and transitioned into agroforestry. He explains his experience raising cattle, pigs and chickens in his neglected mixed species forest near Portlaoise, Ireland. We discuss the forest itself and his management approach, thinning the forest, creating paddocks and his system of rotational grazing. He also shares the criticism he received, his experience managing windblow, observations around nature, natural regeneration, rainfall and much more.

Key Topics
Brendan explains how he used the animals to open up the understory.
The general ecological benefits of using cattle, pigs and hens in forest management.
How innovative methods lead to biodiversity improvements.
Brendan argues that agroforestry management requires understanding of local ecosystems.
The importance of balancing bacterial to fungal ratios in the forest to allow grass to thrive.
The value Brendan sees in the soil itself and how the forest enhances livestock welfare.
How carefully controlled rotational grazing through defined paddocks prevents damaging the soils and the trees.
How Brendan brings the community into his forest.

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Links
Fiorbhia website: https://www.fiorbhiafarm.ie/
Fiorbhia on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/fiorbhia_farm/?hl=en
Brendan's Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-guinan-99395662/

Read about Brendan in the Irish Indepedent at https://www.independent.ie/farming/rural-life/how-this-26ac-of-abandoned-forest-in-laois-is-now-producing-premium-meat-for-irelands-top-chefs/42273708.html

For general advice and information about agroforestry in Ireland: https://www.irishagroforestry.ie/

Department of Agriculture Food and Marome Forestry Information including the Agroforestry Scheme at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forestry-grants-and-schemes/

forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com

Chapters:
[0:00:00] – Introduction to Fíorbhia Farm & Biological Agroforestry - Brendan Guinan introduces his unique 100% biological agroforestry enterprise in Ireland that operates without chemical intervention to enhance the living conditions of both trees and animals.

[0:00:55] – From Hazardous Waste to Forestry: The Origin Story After 16 years running a hazardous waste business and experiencing burnout at age 40, Brendan explains how he sold his company and eventually found a forgotten, overgrown forest in 2019.

[0:02:08] – Assessing the Land: Soil Health Over Timber Value Brendan describes the state of the 25-year-old unthinned forest and explains why he saw more value in the thriving soil biology (worm castings and tilth) than in the neglected, stunted trees.

[0:04:49] – Integrating Animals: A Lifelong Farming Philosophy Drawing on 20 years of experience growing 80% of his family's food on a small plot, Brendan discusses why cattle, pigs, and poultry were always a central part of his plan for the forest.

[0:08:04] – Forest Composition: Planted Species vs. Natural Regeneration A breakdown of the site’s species, including planted Sycamore, Red Alder, and Lodgepole Pine, as well as the diverse natural regeneration of Oak, Hazel, Willow, and Rowan.

[0:10:46] – First Steps: Infrastructure, Licensing, and Initial Thinning Brendan recounts investing €40,000 in a roadway, securing a rare continuous cover felling license, and using a chainsaw to open paddocks and create fencing from the harvested timber.

[0:13:24] – The Multi-Species Grazing System & Ecological Impact Details on how cattle first cleared the eight-foot-tall overgrowth, followed by pigs to turn the soil and hens to spread waste, effectively restoring the ecosystem's balance without machinery.

[0:18:19] – Soil Microbiology & Managing the Fungal-to-Bacteria Ratio An exploration of soil science in agroforestry, where Brendan explains how animal intervention reduced the fungal-to-bacteria ratio from 60:1 to 5:1 to encourage healthier grass growth.

[0:20:59] – Managing Animal Impact & Rotational Grazing Strategy Addressing concerns about root damage, Brendan explains his use of small 1–2 acre paddocks and the importance of moving animals before they transition from "regenerative" to "destructive".

[0:24:00] – Diversification: Fruit Trees, Lakes, and Cob Houses Brendan discusses his trials with "nurse crops," planting walnuts and blueberries, and how he converted a flooded, nutrient-poor area into a one-acre lake and built a cob house using on-site clay.

[0:30:24] – Navigating Grants, Bureaucracy, and Commercial Viability A candid look at the lack of support from official organic and agricultural schemes, and Brendan’s reliance on direct sales and marketing rather than government grants.

[0:32:10] – Future Vision: Demonstration Farming & Succession Planning Brendan outlines his 2026 plans to turn the farm into a destination for training and public engagement, aiming to create a viable intergenerational model for young people in agriculture.

[0:35:27] – Critique of the Agroforestry Scheme & Advice for Farmers Brendan argues that financial payments alone won't sustain agroforestry and offers advice on choosing native species, understanding "right tree, right place," and the importance of long-term planning

Firewood, Bespoke Timber Products and Small Scale Sawmilling with John Sherlock (Part 2)

Dermot McNally — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:14:00 +0000

I talk to John Sherlock (forest owner and member of the North East Forest Group) about how his search for a new revenue stream to integrate into his warehousing business led him to develop a thriving firewood processing enterprise. John explains how it works and how he scaled the business upwards while avoiding bottlenecks. John quickly recognised quality logs among the loads of "pulp" and "rescue timber" that he was processing for firewood and so expanded into sawmilling which he explains in depth - he also discusses his craft timber enterprise where he offers custom made post and beam products (from Irish grown Douglas Fir predominantly) as well as making a range of other bespoke wood products to order. Finally John discusses the growth of small scale sawmilling across Ireland and moves towards forming a Guild. All of this is good news for forest owners who want to maximize revenue from their broadleaf and diverse conifers trees. It's also good news for wood manufacturers and users who want more Irish grown timber in high end products.

Note: this is the second part of my interview with John Sherlock - in the first interview we discussed how he manages his own forest outside Navan in Co Meath and the excellent work being carried out on behalf of forest owners by the North East Forestry Group.

Topics Covered:

Setting and scaling up his firewood business, avoiding bottlenecks and achieving synergies with his warehousing enterprise.
Certifying firewood under the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance scheme - refusing money for firewood - sticking to a quality ethos.
Kiln dried firewood, saw dust and bark residues?
Expansion into small scale sawmilling and how demand for at-home-Shebeens during COVID turned into demand for timber.
Post and beam training and douglas fir processing. Preparing cants, finishing to order and conversion rates.
A guild of small scale irish sawmillers? 170 small sawmillers in Ireland! Certified home grown timber in the future?
The strength of peer to peer learning and site visits - how a small amount of Government funding can accelerate industry expansion and cohesion.
A ready made market in Irish schools and bespoke furniture as well as post and beam buildings?
A bright future for Irish forest owners and timber users.

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Links

John Sherlock on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sherlock-6a0a14236/
RDS Forestry Award 2020: https://www.forestry.ie/images/MiscDocs/2021YearbookArticles/2021YB-RDSForestryAwards.pdf
North East Forestry Group: https://northeastforestrygroup.ie/
Sherlogs Firewood: https://sherlogscrafttimber.ie/

Sherlogs Craft Timber: https://sherlogs.ie/
Guide to Small Scale Sawmilling: https://irishforestowners.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IFO-Sawmilling-Handbook-2025.pdf

https://forestrynow.eu/

Mixed Species Forests and the North East Forestry Group with John Sherlock (Part 1)

Dermot McNally — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 07:03:00 +0000

Today I speak with John Sherlock. As well as managing a 49 acre forest, John and his wife Evelyn own Sherlogs Firewood and Craft Timber based outside Navan in Co Meath. The business supplies firewood in the midlands and also mills timber for resale as well as offering a bespoke timber manufacturing service. If that wasn't enough John is very active in the North East Forestry Group and in a new initiative to bring small scale sawmillers across Ireland together.

So there's a lot to talk about which is why I've split the interview in two parts. In this episode we talk about what's happening in his forest right now (he had windblow in January 25 and ash dieback prior to that). Then we take a deep dive into the activities of the North East Forestry Group where John's a former Chair and current secretary. John explains how their members are thriving through participation and peer to peer learning - their activities all prove the point that a small amount of targeted Government funding can accelerate the growth and cohesion of the industry.

In the second episode (scheduled for release in two weeks) we'll discuss Johns firewood, his sawmilling business and the custom timber products he offers including post and beam from Douglas Fir. Then we move on to talk about the growing number of small scale sawmills across Ireland which can only be good news for forest owners who want to maximize revenue from broadleaf timber and diverse conifers.

Topics in this Episode:

Johns forest, ash dieback and replanting to suit the land, windblow devastation and CCF going forward.
Growth of the North East Forestry Group, especially since Storm Eowyn.
Group Forest Certification (including the 12 Apostles) and expanding the number of forests certified. Learning from Certification.
The Schools Project to bring kids into the forests.
Supporting Future Forest Owners with bespoke learning initiatives.
Knowledge Transfer Groups and the strength of forest owners groups - with examples including an application to fund a group owned forwarding machine.

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Links

Sherlogs Craft Timber: https://sherlogs.ie/
Guide to Small Scale Sawmilling: https://irishforestowners.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IFO-Sawmilling-Handbook-2025.pdf

https://forestrynow.eu/

Farm Forestry, the IFA Forestry Committee and conifer removal / nature restoration on Sliabh Beagh with Alan McCabe

Dermot McNally — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:30:00 +0000

In this interview I speak with Alan McCabe who is the Manager at Glaslough Tyholland Group Water Scheme in North Co Monaghan. We briefly discuss how Alan manages his own forest and his role as Co Monaghan representative on the IFA Forestry Committee including challenges surrounding ESB corridors in existing forests. Then we discuss the River Blackwater Catchment Trust who have a project to remove self seeded conifers off the heather boglands of Sliabh Beagh (which is in Monaghan, Tyrone and Fermanagh): we explore how they do this and why it matters.

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Links

Alan McCabe on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-mccabe-0485b7162/

The Blackwater River Catchment Trust: https://blackwatercatchmenttrust.org/

Glaslough Tyholland Group Water Scheme: https://gtgws.ie/
The IFA Forestry Committee: https://www.ifa.ie/sector-committees/forestry-committee/

National Park and Wildlife Service (NPWS) https://www.npws.ie/peatlands-and-turf-cutting/protected-raised-bog-restoration-incentive-scheme-prbris

forestrynow.eu

[0:00:01] Introduction & Alan McCabe’s Forest Management

[0:07:25] Joining the IFA Forestry Committee: Roles and Activities

[0:10:54] Committee Advocacy: Wind Blow, Timber Prices, and Owner Support

[0:14:00] ESB Access and Powerline Corridor Management

[0:19:25] Licensing Objections and Ministry Liaison

[0:20:49] River Blackwater Catchment Trust: Overview and Goals

[0:27:06] Peatland Site Description: Species, Geography, Significance

[0:29:50] Invasive Self-Seeded Conifers: Project and Impact

[0:34:06] Other Invasives and Habitat Challenges

[0:35:13] Physical Removal, Drone Use, and Safety Considerations

[0:37:30] Native Species Self-Seeding: Habitat Change Drivers

[0:39:27] Peat Extraction History and Bog Restoration Plans

[0:40:18] Advice and Priorities for Forest Owners

Who Dares Wins - Transformation of Sitka Spruce to Continuous Cover Forestry with Seán Ó Conláin

Dermot McNally — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 06:30:00 +0000

In this podcast I speak to Seán Ó Conláin about planting a 15 acre broadleaf forest in 2004, buying an adjoining mature high yield class conifer plantation (planted 1987) and the risks he took converting this block to continuous cover forestry. Seán explains his background and inspiration, management techniques, thinning interventions, underplanting, windblow of standing timber, observations around nature and enhancing nature on his holding and much more. Seán is a Chair of the Teagasc Forestry Stakeholder Group as well as a committee member at Pro Silva Ireland.

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Links
Field day report from Seáns forest https://prosilvaireland.com/autumn-field-day-2023/
Pro Silva Ireland at https://prosilvaireland.com/ or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ProSilvaIreland/
Department of Agriculture Food and Marine Forestry Information https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forestry-grants-and-schemes/
Sean on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/se%C3%A1n-c-1b24109/

Forestry Now
https://forestrynow.eu/

CHAPTERS
[0:00:04] – Introduction & Guest Background

[0:05:37] – Forest Structure & Oak’s Significance
Discussion about planting patterns, mixing species, the cultural meaning of oak in Ireland, site layout, and adapting to the local landscape’s needs.

[0:09:13] – Interventions & Spruce Management
Sean explains interventions since his trees established, including halo thinning, tending around oak, neighbor assistance, and applying for the Woodland Improvement Scheme.

[0:12:23] – Spruce Block Purchase & CCF Transition
Sean recounts the decision to buy an older spruce block, shifting from clearfell to continuous cover forestry, weighing risks, and starting the transformation process.

[0:18:56] – Machinery, Soil, & Harvesting Challenges
Challenges of using heavy equipment on peaty soil, timing interventions to minimize damage, and balancing harvesting with conservation values.

[0:19:37] – Deer, Wildlife, & Managing Browsing Pressure
Sean shares the rising impact of deer on regeneration and underplanting, failed attempts at fencing, and the need for collaborative local management of wildlife.

[0:29:04] – Social Value, Community, & Future Initiatives
Exploration of the social benefits of the forest, potential for community social farming, application to integrate habitats, and ambitions for wider involvement.

[0:36:06] – Advice to New Foresters & Learning Resources
Sean’s advice on planning access and roads from the start, sources like Teagasc and Pro Silva, learning from big estates, and insights on forest knowledge transfer.

[0:39:43] – Cultural Reflections, Succession, & Closing Thoughts
Discussion of Irish people’s deep cultural connections to trees, succession challenges for new owners, and Sean’s poetic closing remarks on the legacy of woodlands.

Falling Timber, Falling Prices - Windblow and Timber Export with Victor Barber

Dermot McNally — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:40:00 +0000

The fall out from Storm Darragh and Eowyn has been monumental for the Irish Forestry Industry. To get an overview of this I speak with Victor Barber - Victor's a qualified forester who began his career with Western Forestry Co Op and is now their Harvesting Manager based out of Sligo. He also farms and is a regular contributor to the Farmers Journal on all things forestry. We speak about Storm Éoywn, we try to make sense of why some sites blew down and some sites didn't, we discuss the challenge harvesting windblown sites and the arrival of international harvesting crews. Finally we talk through the export of timber in containers and how prices are holding up for the owners of recently harvested forests.

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Links

Western Forestry Coop: https://westernforestrycoop.ie/

Victor Barber's Profile: https://westernforestrycoop.ie/our-staff/victor-barber/

Victor in the Farmers Journal https://www.farmersjournal.ie/focus/forestry/planning-windblow-from-harvesting-and-sale-to-replanting-885052
DAFM Guidance on using free satellite technology to assess windblown forests: youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Hqqy5sP8PzY
IFA Timber Price Survey: https://www.ifa.ie/market-reports/timber-price-surveys/
ITGA: Wood Price Quarterly: https://itga.ie/services/information/wpq

Forestry Now
https://forestrynow.eu/

Chapters
[0:00:01] – Introduction & Guest Background
Dermot McNally introduces the podcast, outlines the episode, and welcomes Victor Barber, the harvesting manager at Western Forestry Co-Op, discussing his experience and the episode’s topics.

[0:01:13] – Harvesting Methods & Services at Western Forestry Co-Op
Victor explains the evolution of harvesting and sales at Western Forestry Co-Op, including the control of harvests, contracting, and maximizing returns for timber owners.

[0:03:39] – Impact of Storms Dara & Eamon; Harvesting Crews
Discussion of crew numbers before and after storms, the increase to 11 crews during peak, and the significant industry disruption caused by extreme weather.

[0:06:07] – International Harvesting Crews
Victor describes bringing in Romanian harvesting crews managed by Dutch supervisors, their skill, adaptation to the Irish climate, and overcoming initial language barriers.

[0:08:05] – Wind-Blown Sites: Patterns of Damage
Explores which sites suffered wind blow, the lack of clear patterns, why broadleaf plantations mostly escaped damage, and how storm severity overrode usual forestry precautions.

[0:12:18] – Harvesting Process on Wind-Blown vs. Normal Sites
Victor outlines the added complexity and reduced speed of harvesting wind-blown sites, describing tangled trees (“bowl of spaghetti”) and the challenge for operators.

[0:13:51] – Forwarder Machines and Site Maintenance
Discussion on how, despite slow harvesting, forwarders remain engaged in site maintenance, especially laying down brash to protect soil in adverse weather.

[0:15:27] – Timber Recovery & Brash Management
The impact of wind blow on saleable timber recovery, the need for skilled harvester drivers, and the generally good outcomes despite damage and logistical hurdles with brash.

[0:18:10] – Timber Certification & Export to Europe/China
Post-storm oversupply leads to container exports to China/Europe; Victor notes certification wasn’t a deciding factor in sales this year.

[0:21:28] – Logistics of Exporting Timber
How exporting works: from forests to yards to ships, the roles of international buyers, and adapting logistics for safety and efficiency after the storm.

[0:24:55] – Timber Measurement & Pricing
Shift from weight-based to volume-based pricing; the challenges for timber owners, summer weather effects, and industry-wide learning on measurement methods.

[0:31:20] – Financial Returns for Forest Owners
Examples of net earnings per acre from wind-blown sites, with older plantations faring better and younger ones hit hardest by increased harvesting costs and price drop.

[0:35:32] – Future Outlook & 2026 Expectations
Expectations for the coming year: industry hopes for a reconstitution grant, continued challenges with pulp prices, and the need for support to restart planting cycles.

Resilient Family Forests - CCF in Westmeath with Olive Leavy

Dermot McNally — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:30:00 +0000

In this interview I speak with Olive Leavy a forest owner from Co Westmeath who currently works with Pro Silva ireland. Olive has chosen to manage her forest using the continuous cover forestry method and in this interview we cover all aspects of this including windblow, ash dieback, challenges with harvesting, getting to know your forest, a firewood business, how forestry has enabled her to remain in rural ireland, advice for forest owners and much more.

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Links

Olive Leavy on Linkedin

Pro Silva Ireland at https://prosilvaireland.com/

Forestry advice available at Teagasc Forestry at https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/

DAFM Forestry Information including the Woodland Improvement Scheme including CCF - https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forestry-grants-and-schemes/

Olive on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestgirl_ire/

Forestry Now:
https://forestrynow.eu/

CHAPTERS
[0:00:01] – Introduction & Guest Background
Dermot introduces the podcast and guest, Olive Leavy, who shares how she became involved in managing her family’s forest.

[0:03:10] – Forest Composition & Features
A detailed account of the tree species planted, veteran trees, hedgerow management, and unique characteristics of the site.

[0:07:01] – Decision to Move to Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF)
Olive describes the emergence of ash dieback, peer influence, and the gradual decision to adopt CCF for resilience.

[0:09:39] – First & Second Thinnings: Techniques & Adaptations
Explanation of thinning strategy, adjustments due to site conditions, hazards, and evolving the CCF approach.

[0:14:27] – Ash Dieback Impact & Firewood Business
Discussion of losing ash to disease, the process of removal, honey fungus, utilization as firewood, and replanting with native woodland.

[0:17:47] – Wildlife, Deer Management and Family Involvement
Olive outlines wildlife presence, deer monitoring, impact assessments, and fortunate avoidance of invasive species.

[0:21:14] – Woodland Regeneration, Storm Windblow & Forest Stability

Weed control methods, labor required, wind damage, adapting management plans, and planting for structural resilience.

[0:28:29] – Deadwood Creation, Water Protection & Biodiversity
Techniques for enhancing biodiversity, practical water protection measures, machinery setbacks.

[0:34:49] – Government CCF Scheme & Management Support
Participation in the Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS), available supports, and practical uses for funding.

[0:37:15] – Future Plans & Underplanting
Plans for underplanting, species diversification, tree marking, high pruning, and continuous CCF improvements.

[0:43:29] – Natural Regeneration Under Conifer
Observations of beech, oak, birch, and sycamore natural regeneration, and active management of unwanted species.

[0:46:29] – Firewood Business Insights and Advice for New Forest Owners
Olive’s experience running a firewood business and the importance of hands-on knowledge for management success.

[0:50:09] – Mná na Coille Initiative and Closing Remarks
Initiative introduction, aims to empower women in forestry, survey results, and next steps for increased industry inclusion.

Afforestation in the 1990's, Forest Fires, Forest Prices and carbon with Paul Lafferty

Dermot McNally — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:55:13 +0000

Today I spoke with Paul Lafferty. Paul qualified as a forester in 1989 but now runs his own Auctioneering firm selling residential and commercial property from his office in Castlerea Roscommon.
In addition he runs forestsales.ie which specialises in the sale of forests, reforestation land and standing timber. In this interview we speak about his 11 years with Greenbelt when afforestation rules were very different, we discussed how he manages his own forests and then Paul gave me a feel for the typical prices that are being paid for forests in Ireland right now and how an existing owner might prepare their forest for sale.

Finally Paul also set a very high bar for future guests by offering to be one of the sponsors for the show which I'm delighted with, so thanks to Paul for that.

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Links
Forest Sales website: https://www.forestsales.ie/

Pauls Lafferty Ltd Auctioneers https://www.myhome.ie/estate-agents/james-cleary-sons-5973/residential

Paul Lafferty at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-lafferty-797a4020/

Greenbelt Forestry: https://www.greenbelt.ie/
UCD Undergraduate Degree in Forestry https://www.ucd.ie/agfood/study/undergraduateprogrammes/

Forestry Now:
https://forestrynow.eu/

[0:00:02] – Introduction & Guest Background.
Dermot McNally introduces the Forestry Now podcast and guest Paul Lafferty, who shares his background as a forester and current auctioneer, including his early career, education, and experience with Greenbelt.

[0:01:15] – Education and Early Work Experience.
Discussion of the UCD forestry degree’s practical elements, including a full-year placement with Coillte, and Paul’s reflections on the differences between past and present training.

[0:02:19] – Role at Greenbelt: Afforestation & Land Procurement.
Paul describes his work as a forest area manager from 1989–2000, focusing on afforestation, land acquisition, grant applications, species selection, and the challenges of trespass and frost damage.

[0:05:00] – Financial Aspects of Afforestation.
Exploration of costs and profitability linked to deep peat bog plantings, contractor negotiations, and premium structures for landowners, including changes in land and forestry values over time.

[0:09:10] – Managing Personal Forests: Practices & Challenges.
Paul discusses his personal forest investments, the processes of thinning and clear felling, dealing with issues such as fire, windblow, and reconstitution grants, and evolving management strategies.

[0:15:12] – Trends in Forest Sales & Institutional Investment.
Insight into the types of forests and land markets, what institutional and recreational buyers are seeking, the importance of access and roads, and evolving investor requirements—including environmental concerns.

[0:23:17] – Valuing & Marketing Forests.
Details on the valuation process, required information, use of technology (maps, drone imagery), competitive bidding, and the challenges/opportunities of finding true market value for plantations.

[0:28:26] – Current Forest Prices by Type and Region.
Breakdown of recent prices for productive conifer plantations, broadleaf forests, and the variables affecting those prices, including area, location, species, and market demand.

[0:33:37] – Reforestation Land & Farmland Market Dynamics.
Discussion of the state of the market for reforestation ground, the influence of farmland prices and returns from farming, and regulatory/environmental obstacles impacting approvals and values.

[0:41:53] – Future Trends: Biodiversity, Carbon, & Investment Opportunities.
Paul highlights emerging trends in biodiversity, environmental schemes, and carbon credits. The episode concludes by encouraging forest owners to monitor new opportunities in sustainability and forest management.

Welcome to Forestry Now (Coming Soon...)

Dermot McNally — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:25:52 +0000

This podcast explores the forces impacting the profitable and sustainable management of commercial forests and natural woodlands.
I speak with forest owners, forestry professionals and industry stakeholders on the biggest operational, environmental and economic challenges affecting the sector. I'll interview people involved in the harvesting and processing side of the forestry business as well as those who are trying to maximise carbon sequestration and general ecosystem services.
Finally I'll investigate political and legislative changes that are coming down the track as well as highlight new technologies and big opportunities that are around the corner.

Subscribe to Forestry Now with me Dermot McNally, to hear more.

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