Professional foresters play a key role in planning, establishing and sustainably managing forests in Ireland. Most foresters in Ireland are members of the Society of Irish Foresters (SIF). The society has had a major influence on forestry issues such as training and education, forest policy, research, economics and the environment since it was founded in 1942.

Gerry Murphy, its newly elected president, outlined his plans for the society over the coming two years in a recent interview with the Irish Farmers Journal.

Donal Magner: Who does the society represent?

Gerry Murphy: The society is an all-island forestry organisation and represents the professional interests of 680 members, mainly foresters. But we see ourselves as independently representing the forest industry as a whole throughout the island. We are unique in this regard, as our membership comprises foresters from all sectors of the forestry industry including public and private forestry, academia, consultants and timber processors. The general public, especially forest owners, are represented through associate membership and we regard our third-level student members as vital for the future development of the society.

DM: How relevant is the society and the role of the forester today, as forestry seems to be governed more by economics than silviculture?

GM: It is a key organisation in ensuring that managing our forests through sustainable practices results in returning a dividend to our investors, shareholders and the State. When all is considered, this is the financial imperative for the long-term future and success of the Irish forest industry, which includes social, economic and environmental benefits. So, forest management as I see it is about getting the right economic and ecological balance in order to maximise wood and non-wood benefits while catering for important elements such as landscape values and species biodiversity.

DM: Achieving sustainable forest management and forest certification are becoming more demanding. Are foresters and forestry companies up to it?

GM: I believe they are well up to the challenges, but they need support. For example, in recent times, the society has received feedback from its members concerning training and educational needs, which are now required to run a modern commercial forest enterprise. It is clear from this feedback that a training needs analysis for the forestry professional is required and it is my intention to initiate this assessment in 2017.

DM: What is the society doing to ensure that its members are well informed on current forestry issues and practices?

GM: I am a strong believer in the concept of life-long learning, developing good business skills and building strong relationships with all stakeholders, while growing our forest industry in the wood and non-wood areas. That is why my main objective is to promote our professional development programme. This was initiated in 2003 as a means of confirming that professional foresters are up to date with current forestry practices. Supported by the Forest Service, this is now updated through our revised continuous professional development (CPD) programme, a three-year project with defined tasks, milestones and deliverables.

DM: Forestry as a career is rarely promoted to the same extent as other professions. There are mixed reports on the current state of forestry education in Ireland, including career prospects of our graduates.

GM: I agree that forestry courses could do with greater promotion and support. The current lack of knowledge of the existing forestry courses and a lack of interest from students on their CAO forms is a serious concern. The information made available to students from career guidance teachers needs input from the forestry industry, highlighting the opportunities for a career in the forestry profession.

Our forestry educational institutions have confirmed that a lack of trained professionals will be a major issue for employers in the near future. To address this challenge, the society has joined with the two colleges which provide forestry degree courses – UCD and WIT – and the Forest Service, Coillte, Teagasc and the Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association. Our aim is to develop implementable solutions which will promote forestry as a rewarding career, which I believe it is.

DM: What attracted you to the society when you began your career in forestry and has it fulfilled your expectations?

GM: Its emphasis on promoting greater awareness of our forests and woodlands, along with forestry education, impressed me from the outset, as well as the society’s approach to standards, enshrined in its ambitious mission: “To lead and represent the forestry profession, which meets, in a sustainable manner, society’s needs from Irish forests, through excellence in forestry practice.” Society members continue to have a strong sense of the importance of forestry as a viable land use. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary this year, the society’s organisation structure has stood the test of time, which augurs well for the future.

Profile: Gerry Murphy

A native of Castlegregory in west Kerry, Gerry Murphy grew up in a typical southwest of Ireland mixed dairy and horticulture farm.

His first inkling that forestry might be the right career for him occurred when he saw forester listed as the profession under the name of Kerry footballer, All-Ireland medallist and Texaco all-star winner Tom Prendergast in a match programme.

After attending secondary school at Meán Scoil an Leith-Triúgh, Casileán Ghriaire, he gained professional qualifications in agriculture, forestry and ecology at Clonakilty Agricultural College, and forestry colleges at Kinnitty, Avondale, WIT and UCC.

His career began with the Forest Service and, in 1989, he transferred to Coillte, where he worked in forest research, management, harvesting and marketing, before he was promoted to the post of Coillte regional director for Munster and part of Leinster.

Gerry left Coillte in 2012 to pursue interests in forestry and farming, as well as a career as an independent ecological surveyor.

Chair of the Irish Brent Goose Research Group, he is widely respected in the field of ornithology.

When we met, he was planning his 20th expedition to Iceland, where he has undertaken research into bird migration with the Icelandic Institute of Natural History in Reykjavik and University of Exeter in Devon and Cornwall since 1985.

He will return in two weeks to chair the national forestry conference on minor conifers in Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, Co Meath, on Wednesday 31 May.

He is a strong supporter of forestry in rural development and is actively involved in projects such as the Tree Council of Ireland’s family tree scheme at Torc Mountain in Killarney National Park and the Irish Seed Savers project.

He also has a keen interest in Dún Síon’s Camphill Community near Dingle, which is based on the former family farm of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

“Located along the cliffs above Dingle Bay, this project is devoted to serving the needs of people with developmental disabilities,” he says.

Gerry has a keen interest in sport. He captained the Kerry All-Ireland winning Under-21 side in 1976 and won an All-Ireland hurling sevens with Kinnitty in 1980, which, he says, “is a treasured medal, as not many hurling awards are held by west Kerry people”.