To: Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

2nd September 2015

To: Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Dear Sir/Madam,

In response to your recent consultation paper on Forest Reproductive Material and the invitation for written submissions in relation to revision and updating of the current scheme I wish to make the following observations:

“Accepted Tree Species for Grant Aid in Plots”

(1)Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland cypress) should not be grant aided and should be removed from the list.

(2)Sequoia sempervirens (Coast redwood) is an acceptable species yet Giant redwood – Sequoiagiganteum is not included. I suggest that Giant redwood – Sequoiagiganteum be also included.

(3)In the section under broadleaves it is noted that there are a number of alders which are not included and suggest that the following be included: Red alder – Alnusrubra (Washington/Vancouver Island) and Grey alder – Alnusincana(Irish/ UK /N. Europe).

(4)Under the birches, it is suggested that seed sources to be used should be“Registered as ‘Qualified’ only on application”. I consider this as too restrictive and I suggest that reproductive material from ‘registered’ Irish seed stands should also be accepted.

(5)Under Poplar I suggest that Black poplar – Populusnigra which is considered a native species by some should also be included especially for river banks and lakeside settings.

“Accepted SeedOrigins/Provenances”

(1)Under Norway spruce – Piceaabies provenance I suggest removing material from ‘Beskidy regions of Czech Republic, Tatra Mountains of Slovakia and north east and lowlands of south Poland’ as seed from these areas have shown die-back in the forests of Northern Europe. Seed orchard material from Denmarkshould be included and given preference if seed is available.

(2)For Douglas fir – Pseudotsugomenziesii, I suggest that French seed orchard material (Darrington origin) be also included and that seed from the Darrington region 403 of Washington should also be acceptable. Also acceptable would be improved material from the Weyerhaeuser breeding programme in Centralia in Washington.

(3)Finally for Birch in the last page I suggest that you change the X to acceptable under the selected category as mentioned in (3) above under the ‘Accepted tree species’

(4)Under Sitka spruce – Piceasitchensis seed from tested seed orchards in Denmark of Washington origin should be given preference until material from Irish orchards become available.

These opinions are based on many years working in the area of seed production and seed orchard development programmes in Ireland.