EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Two key publications:
Goodale, C. L, Aber, J. D. , Farrell, E. P., 1998: Predicting the relative sensitivity of forest
production in Ireland to site quality and climate change. Climate research 10 (1): 51–67.
Byrne, A. K., Farrell, E. P., 2005: The effect of afforestation on soil carbon dioxide emissions
in blanket peatland in Ireland. Forestry 78 (3): 217–227.
6. Training
The research program will help to train ESR able to provide a scientifically sound basis for
the implementation of the Resolution on Forestry Strategy for the EU, adopted by the
European Council in 1998, and specifically for sustainable production of renewable resources
and sound environmental practices as the main objectives. This new generation of scientists
will also be essential for the development and implementation of the Strategic Research
Agenda of the EU Forests Based Sector’s Technological Platform, EU environmental policies
and the EU Climate and Environment Program. These expectations are not unrealistic, as our
network teams have had a long record of successful participation in the 5 th and 6 th EU FPs.
Early stage researchers will benefit both directly from their network-specific activities and
indirectly from operating in a creative, international and interactive scientific environment.
6.1 Training needs
From the viewpoint of human resources, the transfer of know-how from applied ecology of
primeval forests ecosystems into practical management of forest ecosystems has been
seriously hindered not only by the scarcity and dispersal of primeval forests remnants, but
also by the lack of an interdisciplinary approach. Thus, most universities in Europe provide
the training in nature-based forestry only of a facultative appendix. Though we cannot
undertake to train new fully fledged experts in each area within this network, we can help the
young researchers to become familiar with the purpose and use of methods applied in the
particular fields. Only then can they attain the capacity to pose relevant questions, to capture
the complexity of forest ecosystems and extract solutions for the practical, adaptive and
nature-based management of forest ecosystems. We have identified training need for young
European researchers especially in the following areas: Experimental designs: In forestry
research, proper replication of studies is sometimes confused with pseudoreplication. ERSs
shall receive training on setting up proper research designs in order to ensure opportunities for
the transfer of knowledge. Methods of field work: There is little methodological
standardization of field techniques employed in primeval forests and silvicultural studies,
which makes comparative studies difficult. Thus, it is essential to develop comparable
methods, widely applicable with minimum modification. Quantitative analyses of
biogeochemical cycles: The biogeochemical cycling is often analyzed or modeled
qualitatively, or quantitative analyses and modeling are performed on spatially very limited
compartments. Such approach can essentially mask the overall patterns, such as the carrying
capacity of sites. The use of absolute values shall be encouraged. Spatio-temporal
variability: In studying heterogeneity, what we call ground noise (or residual variance) in
classical statistical inference, actually may be the matter of our study in highly complex
ecosystems. ESRs should become acquainted with a wide spectrum of statistical methods.
Genetics applied to forestry studies: Though there is no lack of general expertise in the use
of molecular techniques in population biology in Europe, there is an ever present need to help
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