Alternative management of Ireland’s western peatland forests to adapt to climate change and an expanding bioeconomy

The inherent factor of poor site productivity in western peatland forests combined with the reduction in management intensity from increased environmental considerations has brought some new challenges into forest management. Our study investigates new, alternative forest management models in the area chosen for this study, Cloosh forest, Co. Galway, to assess how these forests should be managed under future impacts of climate change and dynamic timber prices due to an expanding bioeconomy, and to quantify the impact this will have on forest ecosystem services (ES).