Woodlands and the environment

 

Understanding the complex interactions between trees, woodlands and forests and their physical and historic environment

Summary

The environment is one of the cornerstones of sustainable development, and a proper understanding of how trees, woodlands and forests interact with it is vital. Our research on environmental issues provides the evidence base for forestry policies and practice in their support of sustainable land management.

Research programmes

• Climate change: adapting forests and woodlands in Wales to a future climate
• Climate change: adapting Scotland's forests to a future climate
• Climate change: impacts
• Climate change: mitigation
• Environmental Change Network
• Forest Focus Review
• Forest hydrology
• Historic environment
• Intensive long term monitoring of forest ecosystems
• Soil sustainability

Related topics

• Guide to using woodland for sediment control

Related publications

• Publications about woodlands and the environment

Forthcoming events

• Climate change and planting for the future
• Forest wind damage modelling workshop

Related products and services

• Alice Holt Research Forest - Conduct studies with access to 50 years’ scientific data
• Chemical analysis service - Chemical analysis of water, plant and soil samples
• Foliar analysis service - Chemical analysis of foliage with optional fertiliser prescription
• Plant analysis service - Chemical and nutrient analysis
• Soil analysis service - Chemical analysis of soil samples
• Technical services - Forest, soil and site surveys
• Water analysis service - Chemical analysis of aqueous environmental samples
• Woodland heritage services - Helping land managers discover and protect what's under the woodland canopy

Services also include:

• Expert advice in environmental research fields
• Environmental impact assessments
• Physical environmental sustainability audits (site/forest specific).

Background

Protection of the environment, and environmental threats to trees, woodlands and forests have become increasingly important issues in the last three decades. Since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the subsequent Helsinki Conference in 1993, the obligations under the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe and the publication of the UK Forestry Standard, the requirement for countries to practice 'Sustainable Forestry' has been made clear. Research is needed in the ways that trees and forests interact with the environment so that policy, guidance and practice in sustainable forestry in the UK can be based on solid scientific principles. In addition, UK research and expertise is increasingly drawn upon in support of international forestry policy and practice.

Research objectives

Environmental research is split into several interlinked programmes.  These include:

• Effects of forests and forestry on water quality and quantity
• Effects of atmospheric pollution on forest ecosystem dynamics
• Effects of climate change on forest ecosystem dynamics, and development of adaptation strategies
• The sustainability of forest soils
• Intensive forest ecosystem monitoring
• The role of forests in climate change mitigation
• Impact of forests and forestry on the historic environment.

In addition, environmental research supports several other research programmes.  These include:

• Environmental benefits and impacts of greenspace development
• Contamination and integrated remediation of brownfield land
• Tree stability and climate.

Forestry Commission policy

As the responsible government Department for forestry, the Forestry Commission requires an effective understanding of how forests and forestry operations may affect the wider environment, so that it, and the devolved forestry departments in England, Wales and Scotland can ensure that forestry plays a proper part in sustainable development.  Knowledge of the effects of the environment on the health and management of trees, woodlands and forests is important for policies which are concerned with the protection of UK forests.

Achievements

Environmental research within Forest Research has led to significant changes in the way we perceive and manage woodlands and forests in Britain.  Guidance on good practice in the forest has been a centrepiece of outputs from environmental research, including large inputs into the Forestry Commission:

• Forests & Water Guidelines and
• Forests and Soil Conservation Guidelines. 

Research on the effects of climate change is increasingly important, and is providing strong guidance on the likely impacts to woodland and forests, important for forward planning in the forestry industry and in land-use decision making. 

Long term forest monitoring is vital to support environmental research activities.  Forest Research holds the responsibility as the National Focal Centre for the UN-ECE Forest Ecosystem Intensive Monitoring Programme.  It also organises monitoring activities in the only site in the UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) managed as productive forest (broad-leaved and coniferous), located in the Research Forest at Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire.

Contact

Research into 'woodlands and the environment' within Forest Research is centred in the Environmental and Human Sciences Division.

For further information contact:

Prof Andy Moffat
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: +44(0) 1420 526202
Fax: +44(0) 1420 520180
Email: andy.moffat@forestry.gsi.gov.uk