HNV ForESTS
High Nature Value forests are all natural forests and those semi-natural forests in Europe where the management (historical or present) supports a high diversity of native species and habitats, and/or those forests which support the presence of species of European, and/or national, and/or regional conservation concern.
In Ireland, previous work has identified the extent and characteristics of HNV farmland, but little work has been carried out on characterisation and mapping of HNV forest extent. The outputs from this project will inform this knowledge gap, helping us understand how to sustain these forests and maintain their high nature value.
HNV forests in Ireland are likely to include our native and ancient woodlands among other wooded landscape features that comprise a high nature value.