Ireland’s roundwood supply is forecast to increase significantly in the next 20 years. All of the increase will come from private forests from the Republic of Ireland, according to the Independent.
Until 2035, the forecast volume will reach 7.87 million m3, from 3.95 million this year, with a small decrease expected in 2028. The thinning volume is thought to account for 22.04 million m3 over the mentioned period, with a 91.77 million m3 volume, balance from clearfells.
In line with the decrease in thinning volume, there is a comparable drop in the area for thinning over the forecast period. The estimated increase is from 21,600ha this year to a maximum of 34,100ha in 2023 and then shows an average decline to 22,400ha until 2035.
As the Independent reported following a report filed by COFORD, over the mentioned period, most of the wood will come from spruce (97.74 million m3, or 85.9 pc). Also, lodgepole pine and other conifers make for 4.8pc and 6.7pc of total volume respectively, while broadleaves account for 2.9pc.
Between 2016 and 2035, the wood fibre used for energy and other products will sum 58.2 million m3. Also, the small roundwood from the Coillte estate kept out of the forecast, as most of it is used at the panelboard mills.
For the full COFORD report here
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