These events will help forest owners who want to increase their knowledge of how to get the best return from their woodland by sharing their experiences and knowledge of forest certification with other forest owners. These events are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. These KTGs are open forest owners in Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan. Not only will good forest management practices be highlighted but the processes involved in forest certification will be outlined and, in addition, participants or their immediate family, will be paid €70 per meeting attended for a total of seven meetings. The KTG is open to forest owners who have not taken part in course in the previous three years, according to the NEFG.
The aim of this programme is to explain the roles and responsibilities of the group manager and the forest owners within a certification group structure in an easily understood manner. This is open to novice/new forest owners as well as the more experienced members and the hope is that through discussion in an informal meeting, forest owners will understand the longer-term benefits of good forest management and of obtaining forest certification.
During this KTG, there will be visits to existing NEFG members’ forests, where they will share their experiences. Simple forest operations and the documentation that forest owners are required to complete will be discussed. The actual benefits of group certification will be also discussed. The seven meetings will include up to four field trips to various locations in the region.
Chair of North East Forestry Group, Derek McCabe, said: “This KTG programme is a fantastic opportunity for private forest owners who are thinking about certifying their forest to meet and discuss various challenges and to see how other private forest owners are managing their Woodlands.” If you wish to register for this KTG programme, please contact: