Dundalk IT part of €1.2 million ancient woodlands project

A collaborative project that will see DkIT, NUI Maynooth and Teagasc research Ireland’s ancient woodlands has received over €1.2million in funding, it was announced this week. 

The research grant of  €1,215,941.46 is one of 20 granted nationally worth just over €24 million to support research across 16 institutes.

The Ancient Woodlands Ireland project aims to better understand and protect Ireland's ancient woodlands. 

These are areas that have been wooded since at least 1660 and are important for biodiversity, carbon storage, and cultural significance.

Ancient woodlands in Ireland are rare and fragmented, and existing lists of these woodlands are incomplete and the project wants to fill in these gaps in knowledge.

The project will use a mix of traditional and new methods, including historical maps, satellite imagery, and ecological data. 

By combining information from various sources, they aim to create a comprehensive inventory of ancient woodlands across the entire island.

Researchers will use historical maps and texts to understand how woodland cover in Ireland has changed over the past 400 years.

They will also create new maps that accurately show the location and extent of ancient woodlands, while utilising a large database of species diversity information (plants and animals) to identify indicator species associated with ancient woodlands.

It is hoped the project's findings will provide valuable data for better protecting and restoring ancient woodlands in Ireland. This information can be used to prioritise conservation efforts and ensure the long-term health of these important ecosystems.

Making the funding  announcement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D said:

“I am delighted to announce funding of over €24 million for 20 research projects arising from the 2023 Thematic Research Call. The work funded under our research calls is essential to equip farmers, foresters, and the wider agri-food sector with the tools needed to improve their economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the years ahead. 

“It is also pivotal to developing the next generation of cutting-edge technologies and innovations that will ensure we are globally attractive and competitive as a food island.’’

The Minister went on to say that: ‘‘I am impressed at the breadth of areas being funded, ranging from climate mitigation, water quality improvement and biodiversity restoration to animal health and welfare, food safety, and food health and nutrition, among others. 

“I am also heartened to see that the projects will involve the education and training of over 40 postgraduate students and over 60 contract researchers, thus ensuring a continuous stream of highly skilled scientific talent coming through to our industry.”