SEED-STANDS

The national catalogue of seed stands

DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT AS PDF (pdf 145Kb) 
DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT IN IRISH (pdf 142Kb) 

PROJECT TEAM
John Fennessy, COFORD*
Derek Felton, Forestry consultant
Gerard Cahalane, Forest Service
* Email: john.fennessy@agriculture.gov.ie

COMPLETION DATE: The national and EU seed stand listings are reviewed and updated on an annual basis and a new updated listing at national and EU level is produced at the end of each calendar year.

BACKGROUND
On becoming a Member of the European Union in 1973, the Irish State was obliged to comply with a number of Council Directives on the Marketing of Forest Reproductive Material. These Directives were updated in 1999, and new regulations came into force across all member states from 1 January 2003. In compliance with the regulation, Ireland is required to draw up a national register of the basic material of the various species approved on its territory. This is the responsibility of the regulatory authority, the Forest Service, which with COFORD carries out the annual update of the National Catalogue of Seed Stands.

OBJECTIVE
To comply with the EU Directive on the marketing of forest reproductive material as well as to monitor and satisfy national forest reproductive material (FRM) requirements, where possible, from well adapted, productive and suitable forest reproductive material from home sources. Where home sources are not available, national needs are satisfied by suitable overseas material.

PROGRESS
The main progress during 2009 was the identification of stands for the production of forest reproductive material of the main commercial conifer species, especially Sitka spruce, Norway spruce and to a lesser extent lodgepole pine. Stands were also registered in Douglas fir, Japanese larch, western red cedar and Scots pine.  One stand of pedunculate oak in private ownership was also registered. In recent years, supply of forest reproductive material for lodgepole pine was provided from seed orchards; however, these are in decline and production of seed is low. As an interim measure, until new orchards are established, suitable stands of known origin will be selected and used as seed sources for lodgepole pine. During 2009 one seed collection area for the species was registered.
In recent years, seed stands have been thinned to increase seed production. Oak stands at Kilcooley and Donadea and a beech stand at Kilbor were thinned in 2009.
It should be noted that 2009 was particularly poor for tree seed production in Ireland, especially in the broadleaved species.
As outlined in the previous annual report, since the 1970s an active Sitka spruce breeding programme has been ongoing in Ireland. From an original selection of over 550 plus-trees, 86 have been proven in field trials to have superior growth and quality characteristics. These are retained at Kilmacurra, and are the basis for selected Sitka spruce now available, They are classified as 'tested' material. A number of hedged orchards have been established at the Coillte Aughrim nursery. These were added to in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 lists.

ACTIVITIES PLANNED
Continue review and updating of the national catalogue in line with current demands for forest reproductive material and related matters.

OUTPUTS
The national and EU listings were completed on schedule at the end of 2009. The current area of seed stands is shown in Table 1.

 2008 report

PROJECT TEAM
John Fennessy, COFORD*
Derek Felton, Woodstock Seeds Ltd.
Gerard Cahalane, Forest Service
* Email: john.fennessy@coford.ie

COMPLETION DATE: The national and EU seed stand listings are reviewed and updated at the end of every calendar year. The next review will take place during 2009 and an updated list will be published at the end of December 2009.

BACKGROUND
On becoming a member of the European Union in 1973, Ireland was obliged to comply with a number of directives on the marketing of forest reproductive material. These directives were updated in 1999 with new regulations coming into force across all EU states from 1 January 2003. In compliance with the regulation, the Irish State is required to draw up a national register of the basic material of the various species approved on its territory. This is the responsibility of the regulatory authority, the Forest Service, who, with COFORD, carries out the annual update of the national catalogue of seed stands and fulfils an important role in the identification, categorisation, management and evaluation of progeny of seed stands selected under national and European regulation.

OBJECTIVE
To comply with the EU Directive on the marketing of forest reproductive material as well as to satisfy the national forest reproductive material (FRM) requirements, where possible, from best adapted most productive and most suitable forest reproductive material from home sources. Where home sources are not available the national needs are satisfied from suitable overseas material.

PROGRESS
The main progress during 2008 was the identification of stands for the production of forest reproductive material to meet the demands of the main commercial conifer species, especially Sitka spruce, lodgepole pine and to a lesser extent Norway spruce. In recent years, supply of forest reproductive material for lodgepole pine was provided from seed orchards; however, these orchards are now in decline and production of seed in these orchards is low. As an interim measure and until new orchards are established, suitable stands of known origin will be selected and used as seed sources for lodgepole pine.
A significant area of broadleaved seed orchards has been established since 2000. These include ash, alder, birch, oak and sycamore of both clonal and seedling selected material. Part of this work is in co-operation with the British and Irish Hardwoods Improvement Programme (BIHIP). It should be noted that 2008 was a particularly bad year for tree seed production in Ireland especially in most of the broadleaved species apart from ash, birch and alder.
An active Sitka spruce breeding programme has been ongoing since the 1970s and from an original selection of over 550 plus trees, 86 have been proven in field trials to have superior growth and quality characteristics. The parents of this material, retained at Kilmacurra, are the basis for selected Sitka spruce now available and are classified as 'tested' material. Over the last few years a number of hedge orchards have been established in Aughrim nursery for the purpose of commercial production of this improved material and these were added to the 2007 list. A further new hedge orchard was added to the list in 2008.

ACTIVITIES PLANNED
Continue review and updating of the national catalogue in line with current demands and related requirements.

OUTPUTS
Completed the 2008 national and EU listing. The current area of seed stands is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Current area of seed stands as at 31 December 2008.