A new guide setting out how landowners and managers can adapt
their woodlands in the face of climate change has been published
today (Saturday 14th May) by the Forestry Commission, Scottish
Forestry, Natural Resources Wales and the Northern Ireland Forest
Service, as National Plant Health Week draws to a close.
The UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide ‘Adapting
forest and woodland management to the changing
climate’ outlines the steps that can be taken to foster
woodlands which will be resilient to current and future threats
as a result of climate change, such as drought, changing weather
patterns and more frequent, severe weather events.
For our forests and woodlands to thrive, adaptation measures must
be considered carefully. The guide presents a range of such
measures, including diversifying the different types of trees
planted across a landscape – such as changing the dominant
species – to increase biodiversity. It also advises choosing
seeds best suited for the local site and climate to reduce the
risks associated with drought, frost, and pests and diseases. It
is also recommended that landowners and foresters consider
encouraging more natural regeneration. Naturally regenerated
areas may reduce wind, drought, frost, pest and disease risk
where individuals are better adapted to changing local site
conditions.
Chair of the Forestry Commission, Sir William Worsley said:
The woodlands of the future need to be planted and managed
differently if they are to be resilient to our changing climate.
By planting a more diverse range of tree species in the right
place and in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard, we can
foster healthy and thriving treescapes across the country. This
new Guide will help land managers protect our precious woodlands
and ensure their resilience for years to come.
Today’s publication follows a range of announcements throughout
this week promoting the benefits of healthy trees and plants, as
part of National Plant Health Week (9-15 May). These include the
launch of the Forest Research Holt Laboratory and the Centre for
Forest Protection, both of which will conduct innovative research
into tree pests and diseases, as well as ways to manage emerging
threats from climate change.
Woodland creation is an important part of the wider adaptation of
society to climate change, as forests and woodlands can provide
shade and shelter, give flood protection, and reduce both air
pollution and soil erosion. Growing trees removes carbon dioxide
from the air, stores the carbon in wood products throughout their
life and helps manage the risk of flooding.
Implementing these steps into everyday forest management will
support the delivery of the England Trees Action
Plan, which sets out the Government’s long-term plan for the
nation’s trees, woodlands and forests. It will also underpin
wider Government efforts to at least treble tree planting rates
in England by the end of this Parliament, plant 30,000 hectares
of trees across the UK per year by 2025, and achieve Net Zero by
2050.
The Guide has been produced by Forest Research, part of the
Forestry Commission and Great Britain’s principal organisation
for forestry and tree-related research.
The UKFS Practice Guide to ‘Adapting forest and woodland
management to the changing climate’ can be downloaded free of
charge from the Forest
Research online publications catalogue. Hard copies will also
be available shortly (£12 per copy).
More information on supporting
resources for the Guide is available here.
