Duncan Ireland, BSc

Technical Development Forester, Centre for Forest Resources and Management

Duncan graduated from Aberdeen University with first class honours degree in Forest Management in 2001 having completed a four year degree course and a mid year placement with the Forestry Commission at Sherwood and Lincs Forest District. He joined Technical Development in 2001 and gained formal qualifications in Work Measurement and Method and Systems Improvement through the Institute of Management Services. Since joining Technical Development his main research areas have included Continuous Cover Forestry, application of small-scale harvesting and extraction equipment and systems in forestry and use of hand winches in winch takedown and debogging.

Current role

Technical Development Forester, Centre for Forest Resources and Management

As a member of the Technical Development Group northern team, role includes management of project resources to achieve stated deliverables. Also the providing independent advice to members of the public on current project areas, undertaking time and method studies and evaluating new machinery and equipment.

Current programmes

Harvesting and transport

• Continuous Cover Forestry - support role in joint project with Bangor University investigating the output and costs of CCF thinning prescriptions.
• Safety issues of compact tractors in forestry - project manager on investigation of applications for compact tractors in forestry and the promotion of their use.
• Small-scale harvesting and woodfuel outdoor workshops: project manager organising a program of outdoor demonstration workshops throughout the course of the year within the Forestry Commission and Private Sector.

Affiliations and achievements

• Associate member of ICF
• Member of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society
• Member of the Continuous Cover Forestry Group

Research areas

• Continuous cover forestry
• Use of compact tractors in small-scale forestry
• Small-scale harvesting and extraction equipment
• Hand winches – best practice and safe usage
• Woodfuel

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Main recent publications

Ireland, D. (2006). Traction Aids in Forestry ^(PDF-1690K). Technical Note 13, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Saunders, C. J., and Ireland D. (2005). Extraction Route Trials on Sensitive Sites ^(PDF-308K). Technical Note 10, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Ireland, D., Hall, A. and Jones D.H. (2004). Woodfuel Information Pack. Technical Development, Forest Research.

Morgan, S. and Ireland, D. (2004). Excavator Mound Spacing on Restocking Sites ^(PDF-3037K). Forestry Commission Technical Note 8, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Ireland, D. (2004) Winching operations in forestry – tree takedown and vehicle debogging ^(PDF-2523K). Forestry Commission Technical Guide 1.

Webster, P. and Ireland, D. (2003). Brash Management on habitat restoration sites ^(PDF-5713K). Technical Development, Forest Research.