There was much excitement this week when my forestry colleague Karen Woods –Pro Silva Ireland committee member and Coillte Operations Manager (Coillte is Ireland’s semi-state body that manages Ireland’s public forests) announced that there has been a landmark decision to manage the popular Dublin Mountain forests using Close-to-Nature continuous cover forestry methods. The conversation of new-to-Ireland continuous cover forestry began 20 years ago with Pro SIlva Ireland, and the support of the international Pro Silva federation of foresters from many countries. And now it’s being implemented in Ireland, with much national pride, that yes we can radically reimagine forestry for broader environmental, social values. Hurrah from Hollywood forest too!!
Coillte have unveiled an ambitious plan to makeover their Dublin Mountains forests through continuous cover forestry management. Pro Silva principles will be used to transition nine forests to more diverse woodlands with a focus on habitat preservation and recreation. CCF management techniques can be used for commercial timber production in balance with other forest ecosystem services, but in this case Coillte will use CCF techniques to transform former plantation forestry to more natural woodlands where the primary aim is to provide for recreation and biodiversity enhancement. Coillte Operations Manager Karen Woods (also a Pro Silva Ireland Committee member) clearly explains the move in an excellent new video released for the occasion. Pro Silva Ireland welcomes the announcement and the chance for CCF management to be showcased at scale in public forests.
I’m not quite sure how it happened, but I have had a tremendous response, over 500 visitors, looking at my article and podcast on saying “Goodbye to the Anthropocene and Hello Symbiocene” that I posted on Monday. Glenn Albrecht’s in-depth but very accessible ideas, in his new book ‘Earth Emotions: New Words for a New World’ (2019), that map the atrocities of the Anthropocene to a more harmonious future where we prioritise the thriving of all beings -the Symbiocene, seems to have struck a chord with many.
Today, I was particularly excited that another Irish artist I know has a keen sense of the Symbiocene in his backyard. Eoin is an old friend of mine, we both were in the same painting class at the National College of Art and Design many years ago. We were delighted to find we will be co-exhibiting at a small exhibition organised by Imelda Healy, that is running alongside a conference ‘Art in the Anthropocene’ being held in Trinity College, 7-9 June 2019. I am fortunate to be giving my talk again “Goodbye to the Anthropocene and Hello Symbiocene” on Friday 7th June, Session 1.2.2: Eco-social Responses to the Anthropocene Session Convenor: Yvonne Scott, Chair: TBA, Time: 13.45 – 15.15 Venue: Beckett Theatre, Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College Dublin. See the full programme here https://artintheanthropocene.com/call-for-proposals/
Back to Eoin’s post below: I thought Hollywood was doing well with a Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting lately, but look at the furry, delightful neighbours that Eoin has at his home in suburban Dublin. Eoin speaks Gaeilge so his post is first in Irish, then English – enjoy!
And if you like the idea of the Symbiocene, do let me know your thoughts below.
Scroll down for the English language version – and there’s also a foxy video below, for your delectation.
Sé mhí ó shin chuala mé sionnach i gcoim na h-oíche. Screadach uaigneach dodhearmadta ar nós bean sí, is dócha, a bhí ann. (Níor chuala mé bean sí riamh).
Anois is arís feicimid sionnaigh sa cheantar agus muid ag siúl san oíche ach níor chuala mé ceann chomh ghar dúinn roimhe seo. Tá na gairdíní in aice linn fiáin go maith agus na sceacha ag scaipeadh isteach orainne. An fheadar an raibh an sionnach ina chónaí sa bhfiántas sin, i ngan fhios dúinn?
Chuaigh an t-am thart agus tháinig an t-earrach. Bhí na laethanta ag dul chun síneadh. Bhí an lon dubh ag canadh ag titim na h-oíche. Bhí sé níos gile sa ghairdín anois. Oíche amháin thug mé faoi dearadh go raibh rud eicint ag corraí sa ghairdín. Bhí sionnach ina…
The Hollywood Forest Story : An EcoSocial Art Practice | Co. Carlow Ireland 