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Project Code [2023RP978]
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Project title
Ancient Woodlands Ireland
Primary Funding Agency
DAFM
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
Lead Organisation
Maynooth University
Lead Applicant
Not listed
Project Abstract
Ireland�s ancient woodlands (areas believed to have remained continuously wooded since at least 1660) are irreplaceable habitats of high biodiversity value. These woodlands can also provide additional ecosystem services (e.g., long-term carbon storage) and often contain features of historical and cultural significance. Consequently, current forest policy seeks to enhance the protection and restoration of old-growth and ancient woodlands. Despite their importance, ancient woodlands are now a rare and fragmented feature on the island of Ireland. Provisional inventories of ancient and long?established woodland in Ireland and Northern Ireland used historic map and text sources to assign ancient or possible ancient status woodland sites across Ireland. However, these inventories focused primarily on relatively large woodlands. Given the small and fragmentary nature of Irish woodlands, it is likely that many ancient woodlands are not included in the provisional inventories. Major gaps in our understanding of the extent and condition of ancient woodlands in Ireland exist. The Ancient Woodlands Ireland project will combine existing methodologies with novel approaches to deliver an all-island Ancient Woodlands Inventory. This multidisciplinary project will draw on expertise in GIS and remote sensing, paleoecology, contemporary ecology, and history to assess temporal changes in woodland cover in Ireland over the last 400 years. In addition, combined with new maps of ancient woodland cover, the project will utilize a rich database of species diversity data to develop ancient woodland indicator species lists for Ireland. Ultimately, the Ancient Woodlands Ireland project will provide valuable data that can be used to enhance the protection of Ireland�s ancient woodlands and help prioritize sites for ancient woodland restoration.
Grant Approved
�1,215,941.46
Research Hub
Climate Change
Research Theme
1. Carbon Stocks, GHG Emissions, Sinks and Management Options
Initial Projected Completion Date
31/03/2028