Project Aims

THE RESTORATION OF THE ATLANTIC OAKWOODS - AIMS

To restore a significant proportion of the Atlantic Oakwood habitat within candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in the United Kingdom to 'favourable condition'
To undertake scientific research to underpin the development of strategies for the management of grazing with Atlantic Oakwoods.
To establish standardised integrated management and monitoring plans for each SAC which will ensure the maintenance of favourable condition in the future.
To disseminate the information and expertise gained through the project to the widest possible audience to assist in the development of an integrated approach to woodland habitat conservation.

The key to the success of the project is the establishment of effective local partnerships between landowners and the conservation and forestry agencies.

Local Operational Planning Teams combining the local knowledge of landowners with the expertise of locally based professional agency staff have been set up to co-ordinate work programmes for each candidate SAC at the local level.

One of the major mechanisms for ensuring high quality restoration work and effective partnership with the private sector is the Forestry Authority's Woodland Grant Scheme which provides a contribution towards the costs of sensitive native woodland management. LIFE-Nature provides complementary funding to WGS to ensure the highest quality and most extensive conservation management.