Two distinct study areas were selected to investigate potential geographic variation in the accuracy
of forest cover estimation methodologies (see Fig 1). The study areas encompassed two
Irish counties, Longford and Sligo, which, based on results from Ireland’s second National Forest
Inventory (NFI) in 2012, have 7.7% and 11.2% forest cover respectively (as a proportion of
total land area) [30]. The two areas vary considerably with respect to the nature of forest cover.
71.4% of forests in Longford are in private ownership. Large areas of state-owned non-native
conifer dominated forests make up a considerable proportion of forest cover in Sligo. In contrast,
state-owned forests constitute 48.1% of the forest area in Sligo. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)
is the main forest tree species in Sligo accounting for 59.3% of the stocked forest area,
with native forest tree species accounting for only 24%. Although the non-native conifer species
Sitka spruce and Norway spruce (Picea abies) are also the most common forest tree species
in Longford (19.4% and 34.3% of the stocked forest area respectively), native species (principally
ash Fraxinus excelsior, birch Betula pubescens and alder Alnus glutinosa) are more common
(36.6% of the forest area) [30]. Both counties are characterised by differences in climate
and topography. Longford is 1091km2 in size and is predominantly lowland, with the northwest
of the county primarily consisting of drumlin topography. The Sligo region has an area of
1837km2 and has two distinctive upland regions, the Dartry Mountains (highest altitude of
647m) to the north of the county and the Ox Mountains (highest altitude of 544m) to the
south west.
Two distinct study areas were selected to investigate potential geographic variation in the accuracyof forest cover estimation methodologies (see Fig 1). The study areas encompassed twoIrish counties, Longford and Sligo, which, based on results from Ireland’s second National ForestInventory (NFI) in 2012, have 7.7% and 11.2% forest cover respectively (as a proportion oftotal land area) [30]. The two areas vary considerably with respect to the nature of forest cover.71.4% of forests in Longford are in private ownership. Large areas of state-owned non-nativeconifer dominated forests make up a considerable proportion of forest cover in Sligo. In contrast,state-owned forests constitute 48.1% of the forest area in Sligo. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)is the main forest tree species in Sligo accounting for 59.3% of the stocked forest area,with native forest tree species accounting for only 24%. Although the non-native conifer speciesSitka spruce and Norway spruce (Picea abies) are also the most common forest tree speciesin Longford (19.4% and 34.3% of the stocked forest area respectively), native species (principallyash Fraxinus excelsior, birch Betula pubescens and alder Alnus glutinosa) are more common(36.6% of the forest area) [30]. Both counties are characterised by differences in climateand topography. Longford is 1091km2 in size and is predominantly lowland, with the northwestof the county primarily consisting of drumlin topography. The Sligo region has an area of1837km2 and has two distinctive upland regions, the Dartry Mountains (highest altitude of647m) to the north of the county and the Ox Mountains (highest altitude of 544m) to thesouth west.
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