Forest, Environmental Research and Services (FERS) Ltd

Forest, Environmental Research and Services (FERS) Ltd

Organisation type: 
Service provider
ICT provider
Country: 
Ireland
Short name: 
FERS Ltd
Description: 

Forest, Environmental Research and Services (FERS) is an Irish consultancy providing expert ecological and forestry services specialising in:
flora and fauna surveys and Appropriate Assessment/Natura Impact Statements., Forest timber and carbon forecasting, climate change, remote sensing and GIS, forest nurseries, establishment and nutrition FERS and its associates consists of highly qualified scientists, working in the fields of Ecology and Forestry.

Founded in 2005 by Dr. Patrick Moran and Dr. Kevin Black, FERS has provided the highest quality ecological and forestry advice/products to a range of clients including National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Office of Public Works, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Coillte, and Inland Waterways Ireland in addition to a large range of private companies and individuals. Working from offices in Meath and Dublin, FERS are involved in ecological, forestry and GIS projects throughout the country and in in Europe.

Services provided:

-Environmental-
Flora Surveys
Fauna Surveys
GIS database and Habitat mapping
Appropriate Assessments/Natura Impact Statements

-Forestry and land use change-
Land use and climate change
Software development and databases for inventories and forecasting
Nursery quality control
Forest nutrition and establishment consultancy
Forest research

GIS databases, land use change & habitat mapping
In recent years, the use of Geographical Information Systems has become integral to almost every aspect of life. FERS has specialists in GIS database creation and management, and land use or habitat mapping using ArcGIS. The Best Practice for Habitat Surveying and Mapping (Smith et al 2011) places a very heavy emphasis on the use of GIS in habitat surveying and mapping. At present, two of our senior ecologists are studying for Masters degrees in GIS, and their expertise makes FERS ideally placed for carrying out all habitat surveying and mapping projects in Ireland.

Current GIS and remote sensing projects include
Futmon: mapping of observation plot using FieldMap
EPA: LIDAR mapping of Irish hedgerows and mapping land use change using remote sensing
DAFF/COFORD. Design and implementation of Irish forest green house gas inventory (CARBWARE)