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COFORD Connects

The COFORD Connects series of practical information notes started in 2003. These notes review various aspects of forestry, with an emphasis on practical recommendations. The notes are collected in a purpose-made folder, to which new notes are added as they are produced. Updated contents pages are issued with sets of new notes.

The notes cover Seven broad areas:

  • Reproductive Material
  • Silviculture and Forest Management
  • Harvesting, Transport and Forest Machinery
  • Wood Processing and Product Development
  • Socio-Economic Aspects of Forestry
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Wood Technology Ireland

 

Full list of COFORD Connects Notes

These notes can be downloaded as pdfs by clicking on the titles below:

Table Of Contents April 2020 (pdf 300Kb)  

Reproductive Material

  1. The impact of herbicides on tree seedling quality (pdf 52Kb)  
  2. Effect of physiological condition at time of lifting on cold storage tolerance and field performance of important conifer and broadleaf species (pdf 181Kb)  
  3. The collection, storage, treatment and handling of conifer tree seed (pdf 413Kb)  
  4. The collection, storage, treatment and handling of broadleaved tree seed (pdf 510Kb)  
  5. The importance of plant size for successful forest plantation establishment (pdf 460Kb)  
  6. Plant quality: what you see is not always what you get (pdf 243Kb)  
  7. Poor quality planting of ash - getting to the root of the problem (pdf 399Kb)  
  8. Common alder (Alnus glutinosa) as a forest tree in Ireland (pdf 250Kb)  
  9. The importance of provenance and site selection on the production of quality noble fir (Abies procera) Christmas trees (pdf 410Kb)  
  10. Progress in the selection and improvement of Irish birch. (pdf 405Kb)  
  11. Where should Washington and Oregon sources of Sitka spruce be planted in Ireland? (pdf 262Kb)  
  12. Provenances of beech best suited for Ireland. (pdf 186Kb)  
  13. The importance of seed stands in broadleaved forestry. (pdf 292Kb)  
  14. Lifting and handling stresses can cause shoot dieback in oak (pdf 195Kb)  
  15. Eucalyptus as a potential biomass species for Ireland (pdf 351Kb)  
  16. Seed source significantly influences growth, form and silvicultural management of oak (pdf 390Kb)  
  17. Economic benefits and guidelines for planting improved Washington Sitka spruce (pdf 152Kb)  
  18. Irish oak - genetic diversity and the Iberian connection (pdf 222Kb)  
  19. Use of exponential nitrogen loading in the nursery to promote nutrient uptake and quality of pedunculate oak seedlings. (pdf 436Kb)  
  20. Identifying and characterising hybrid `brown bud' ash in Ireland. (pdf 754Kb)  
  21. Oak breeding in the Netherlands: lessons learned on a recent Future Trees Trust (FTT) study tour, by John Fennessy, Jo Clark and Peter Savill (pdf 738Kb)  
  22. Breeding for Tolerance to Ash Dieback Disease (pdf 2,626Kb)  

Silviculture and Forest Management

  1. Computer software requirements in forest management (pdf 45Kb) 
  2. Dyes capable of bonding with fresh wood for use in stump treatment (pdf 66Kb) 
  3. Soil and site indicators for the production of high quality ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) (pdf 181Kb) 
  4. Green Spruce Aphid - a pest of spruce in Ireland (pdf 287Kb) 
  5. Establishing broadleaves (pdf 88Kb) 
  6. Silviculture of broadleaves (pdf 82Kb) 
  7. Controlling grey squirrel damage in Irish broadleaved woodlands (pdf 367Kb) 
  8. Continuous cover forestry (pdf 402Kb) 
  9. Realising the potential of private plantations (pdf 147Kb) 
  10. Thinning to improve stand quality (pdf 296Kb) 
  11. Pruning adds value to plantations (pdf 158Kb) 
  12. Systematic Spacing Trials for Plantation Research and Demonstration (pdf 271Kb) 
  13. Establishing a sustainable forest resource on industrial cutaway peatlands: tree performance and silvicultural techniques (pdf 746Kb) 
  14. Fertiliser application to conifer plantations on oligotrophic peat sites (pdf 133Kb) 
  15. Controlling the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, using natural enemies (pdf 551Kb) 
  16. Assessment of wild edible fungal production in Irish woodlands (pdf 200Kb) 
  17. Assessing the potential for spreading fertiliser in forests using ground-based machines (pdf 383Kb) 
  18. A preliminary evaluation of the application of multi-return LiDAR for forestry in Ireland (pdf 461Kb) 
  19. The Avondale initiative 1905 (pdf 2,016Kb) 
  20. Dynamic Yield Models used in Irish forestry. (pdf 531Kb) 
  21. Nursing of oak in Ireland. (pdf 880Kb) 
  22. Felling Decision Tool - Conifers (pdf 2,790Kb) ‌
  23. Understanding and managing windthrow (pdf 389Kb) 

Harvesting, Transport and Forest Machinery

  1. A pre-harvest timber valuation system (pdf 94Kb) 
  2. Considerable savings possible by planning harvesting systems (pdf 231Kb) 
  3. Harvesting wood for energy from early first thinnings. (pdf 325Kb) 
  4. Harvesting wood for energy from later thinnings. (pdf 151Kb) 
  5. Firewood. (pdf 275Kb) 
  6. Quality wood chip fuel. (pdf 140Kb) 
  7. The potential of terrestrial laser scanning technology in pre-harvest timber measurement operations. (pdf 308Kb) 
  8. A handy stand for sharpening your chainsaw (pdf 248Kb) 
  9. Crossing drains (pdf 347Kb) 
  10. An outline of the ForestEnergy series of COFORD Connects notes (pdf 800Kb) 
  11. Standard shortwood harvesting of conifer first thinnings for 3 m pulpwood and industrial roundwood (pdf 226Kb) 
  12. Integrated harvesting of conifer first thinnings for 4.3 m energy wood and industrial roundwood (pdf 441Kb) 
  13. Whole-tree harvesting of conifer first thinnings for energy wood chip production (pdf 274Kb) 
  14. Producing firewood from conifer first thinnings (pdf 220Kb) 
  15. Whole-tree harvesting of broadleaf first thinning for energy wood chip production (pdf 425Kb) 
  16. Production of wood chip from premature clearfelling of lodgepole pine on cutaway peat (pdf 270Kb) 
  17. Storage and seasoning of conifer roundwood in the forest (pdf 330Kb) 
  18. Forest storage and seasoning of conifer and broadleaf whole trees (pdf 252Kb) 
  19. Storage and seasoning of conifer and broadleaf firewood (pdf 229Kb) 
  20. Long term storage and seasoning of conifer energy wood (pdf 389Kb) 
  21. Units, conversion factors and formulae for wood for energy (pdf 444Kb) 
  22. Fuel consumption of timber haulage versus general haulage (pdf 259Kb) 
  23. Harvesting birch woodland on cutaway peat for wood chip production (pdf 206Kb) 
  24. Producing firewood from broadleaf first thinnings (pdf 198Kb) 
  25. Whole-tree harvesting of softwood first thinnings for energy wood chip production, chemical thinning (pdf 312Kb) 
  26. A synthesis and comparison of forest energy harvesting methods in conifer plantations (pdf 136Kb) 
  27. A synthesis and comparison of forest energy harvesting methods in broadleaves (pdf 233Kb) 
  28. Establishment of Short Rotation Coppice seen from a harvesting point of view. (pdf 845Kb) 
  29. Harvesting of Short Rotation Coppice Willow. (pdf 339Kb) 
  30. Storage of Short Rotation Coppice Willow fuel. (pdf 305Kb) 

Wood Processing and Product Development

  1. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2018) (pdf 1,060Kb)      
  2. The mechanical and physical wood properties of a range of Sitka spruce provenances (pdf 99Kb)      
  3. General principles of timber usage (pdf 154Kb)      
  4. Energy efficiency of timber frame housing (pdf 93Kb)      
  5. Uses of home-grown Irish timber (pdf 642Kb)      
  6. Improving the stability of structural timber (pdf 280Kb)      
  7. Forest foliage. (pdf 703Kb)      
  8. Structural timber design to Eurocode 5 (IS EN 1995-1-1) rules. (pdf 81Kb)      
  9. Ordering and receiving wood chip fuel. (pdf 122Kb)      
  10. Delivery and storage of wood chip fuel. (pdf 625Kb)      
  11. The production of wood pellets. (pdf 738Kb)      
  12. Simple ways to check wood pellet quality. (pdf 99Kb)      
  13. Guidelines for designing a wood pellet storage facility. (pdf 680Kb)      
  14. Estimated woodflow for the Republic of Ireland for 2006. (pdf 855Kb)      
  15. Roundwood supply, wood energy and related issues in the UNECE region. (pdf 165Kb)      
  16. Cladding. (pdf 248Kb)      
  17. An overview of the Irish wood-based biomass sector. (pdf 456Kb)      
  18. Gasifier type firewood fuelled boilers (revised in 2012). (pdf 340Kb)      
  19. Estimated woodflow for the Republic of Ireland in 2007 (pdf 989Kb)      
  20. An overview of the 2008 UNECE Timber Committee meeting (pdf 187Kb)      
  21. An overview of the Irish wood-based biomass sector 2007 (pdf 149Kb)      
  22. Woodflow for the Republic of Ireland for 2008 (pdf 436Kb)      
  23. An overview of the Irish wood-based biomass sector in 2007-2008 (pdf 141Kb)      
  24. Preview of European standards for solid biofuels (pdf 182Kb)      
  25. An overview of the 2009 UNECE Timber Committee Meeting (pdf 161Kb)      
  26. Handling and using wood fuels in a safe manner with regard to Carbon Monoxide (CO). (pdf 347Kb)       
  27. Woodflow and biomass use on the island of Ireland 2009. (pdf 446Kb)      
  28. Woodflow and biomass use on the island of Ireland 2010. (pdf 504Kb)      
  29. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2011) (pdf 564Kb)      
  30. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2012) (pdf 418Kb)      
  31. Ash content of Irish woodfuel. (pdf 266Kb)      
  32. Drying of firewood. (pdf 212Kb)      
  33. Calorific value of Irish woodfuels. (pdf 259Kb)      
  34. An overview of the 2012 UNECE Timber Committee Meeting. (pdf 309Kb)      
  35. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2013) (pdf 1,369Kb)      ‌
  36. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2014) (pdf 503Kb)      
  37. An overview of 2013 meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)Committee on forests and the forest industry (pdf 454Kb)      ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
  38. An overview of 2014 meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on forests and the forest industry (pdf 433Kb)      ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
  39. An overview of 2015 Meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (pdf 426Kb)      ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
  40. Review of worldwide standards for solid biofuels (pdf 1,150Kb)      ‌‌‌‌‌‌
  41. New fuels: thermally treated biomass (pdf 394Kb)      ‌‌‌‌‌
  42. Health and safety aspects of using wood chips as a fuel (pdf 350Kb)      ‌‌‌‌
  43. Health and safety in the handling, storage and use wood pellets (pdf 352Kb)      ‌‌‌
  44. Wood ash (pdf 338Kb)      ‌‌
  45. Heat treatment of softwoods to improve stability and durability (pdf 434Kb)      ‌
  46. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2015) (pdf 882Kb)      
  47. An overview of roundwood harvest and forest products markets in the UNECE region in 2015 - 2017 (pdf 745Kb)      ‌
  48. Software to help the wood for energy community (pdf 936Kb)      
  49. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2016) (pdf 487Kb)      
  50. Embedded energy in wood fuels, by Pieter D. Kofman, Glen Murphy (pdf 572Kb)      ‌
  51. Woodflow and forest-based biomass energy use on the island of Ireland (2017) (pdf 538Kb)      
  52. Easy ways to reduce the emission of fine dust from existing stoves and boilers when burning firewood (pdf 4,051Kb)     
  53. Use of rapid moisture meters to estimate firewood moisture content (pdf 3,858Kb)     
  54. Review of worldwide standards for solid biofuels, revised April 2021 (pdf 4,051Kb)     
  55. Splitting firewood by hand (pdf 5,273Kb)     
  56. Overview of the WoodProps Programme 2017-2020 Wood Properties for Ireland (pdf 6,015Kb)    

Socio-Economic Aspects of Forestry

  1. Wood as a renewable source of energy (pdf 154Kb) 
  2. Social impacts of foresty: A case study approach (pdf 115Kb) 
  3. The economic impact of the forestry and wood products sectors in Ireland (pdf 115Kb) 
  4. Modelling the economics of forestry in Ireland - the returns to farm afforestation (pdf 263Kb) 

Forestry and The Environment

  1. Sodium Dominance Index as a measure of acid-sensitivity in Irish rivers (pdf 86Kb) 
  2. Forest certification - what does it mean for Irish forestry? (pdf 175Kb) 
  3. Carbon sequestration in Irish forests (pdf 312Kb) 
  4. Liming options in afforested catchments in Ireland (pdf 250Kb) 
  5. Global forest certification - 2004 update (pdf 231Kb) 
  6. The distribution of Hen Harriers in Ireland in relation to land use cover, particularly forest cover (pdf 202Kb) 
  7. National Pine Marten survey of Ireland 2005 (pdf 208Kb) 
  8. Dispelling myths: the true extent of recent peatland afforestation in Ireland (pdf 314Kb) 
  9. Climate change and Irish forestry (pdf 2,042Kb) 
  10. The use of forested landscapes by Hen Harriers in Ireland (pdf 568Kb) 
  11. The greenhouse gas balance of peatland forest (pdf 365Kb) 
  12. Suspended solid yield from forest harvesting on an upland blanket peat. (pdf 776Kb) 
  13. Phosphorus release from forest harvesting on an upland blanket peat. (pdf 629Kb) 
  14. A new vision of forest monitoring in Ireland and Europe - the FutMon. (pdf 571Kb) 

Wood Technology Ireland

  1. Construction Products Regulation: Declaration of Performance and CE Marking (pdf 401Kb)           ‌
  2. Timber Roof Trusses - General Information (pdf 496Kb)           ‌
  3. Structural Timber - Marking for Solid Timber (pdf 560Kb)           ‌
  4. Structural Timber - Declaration of Performance (pdf 623Kb)           ‌
  5. Structural Timber - General Design Requirements (pdf 459Kb)           ‌
  6. Timber preservative treatment and durability - solid timber - a background (pdf 428Kb)           
  7. Irish standards on timber fencing - general information (pdf 639Kb)           
  8. Wooden joinery (windows and doors) (pdf 652Kb)           
  9. Plywood (pdf 866Kb)      
  10. Timber Sizes - Solid Timber for Structural Use (pdf 578Kb)       
  11. Timber Grading (pdf 775Kb)     
  12. Wood Based Panels – OSB (pdf 1,002Kb)  
  13. External Timber Cladding –Guidance on Materials, Specification, Detailing and Design (pdf 1,018Kb)  

To order a printed copy of any of these notes, email michelle.furlong@agriculture.gov.ie with the title of the note/s and your contact details.