Biography

Having obtained a first class honours in Environmental Biology at UCD in 1998 Karen spent several years in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii gaining further practical conservation and ecological field-work experience. Since returning to Ireland in 2003 she has worked with several environmental NGOs in environmental education, gained project management experience and also kept up her field-work skills by volunteering extensively. In 2006 she began studying in TCD for an M. Sc in Environmental Sciences and her thesis, entitled “Ground flora diversity of reforestation plantations and native woodlands in comparison with afforestation plantations in Ireland” was undertaken within the framework of FORESTBIO. In 2007 she was awarded a distinction for this degree and she secured a 3 year contract as Research Assistant with the FORESTBIO project.

In 2008 she began a PhD degree with the research undertaken mostly within the framework of FORESTBIO. The thesis entitled “ Manipulation of vegetation succession in forestry and applications for sustainable forest management” dealt with the impact on ground vegetation diversity and communities of successive rotations of plantations, mixed tree species plantations and the restoration of native woodlands in conifer clearfell. Having been awarded the PhD in February 2012 she is currently finalizing manuscripts for publication and submitting presentations to conferences. She is looking forward to continuing her work in practical biodiversity conservation and enhancement and the communication of the importance of biodiversity to policy makers and the public.

Publications:

• Coote, L., French, L.J. Moore, K.M., Mitchell, F. and Kelly, D. 2012. Can plantation forests support plant species and communities of semi-natural woodland? Forest Ecology and Management, XX:XX-XX

Presentations:

• Moore, K., Coote, L., Kelly, D.L. & Mitchell, F.J.G. (2012). Factors influencing the ground vegetation diversity of two successive rotations of non-native conifer plantations. ENVIRON 2012 UCD, Dublin. Awarded first place for best forestry oral presentation at ENVIRON 2012, UCD, Dublin.
• Moore, K. (2011). Ground flora biodiversity of Sitka spruce reforestation plantations in comparison with afforestation plantations in Ireland. PhD Thesis, Trinity College Dublin.
• Moore, K., Coote, L., Mitchell, F.J.G. & Kelly, D.L. (2010).  Factors influencing the ground-flora diversity of successive rotations of non-native conifer plantations. British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2010, Leeds, Britain.
• Moore, K., Coote, L., Fox, H., Vézeau, C., Mitchell, F., Kelly, D. K. (2008). In Press. Ground flora diversity of Sitka spruce reforestation plantations in comparison with afforestation plantations in Ireland. ENVIRON Proceedings 2008.
• Moore, K., Coote, L., Fox, H., Vézeau, C., Mitchell, F.J.G. & Kelly, D. L. (2008). Ground flora diversity of Sitka spruce reforestation plantations in comparison with afforestation plantations in Ireland. ENVIRON 2008, Dundalk IT, Postgraduate Ecology Forum 2008, TCD. Awarded first place for best overall oral presentation. Irish Plant Scientists Association Meeting 2008, NUI, Maynooth.
• Moore, K. (2007). Ground flora biodiversity of Sitka spruce reforestation plantations in comparison with afforestation plantations in Ireland. MSc. Thesis, Trinity College Dublin.