Trees and forests in British society

April 13^th to April 15^th 2010, Heriott Watt University, Edinburgh, UK

What is the event?

A conference to explore the demands that society places on forestry and the role trees, woods and forests are expected to play.

Background

Much forest policy in Britain, as well as the work of the Forestry Commission and other organisations is committed to ensuring the widest possible social benefits are gained from the management of trees, woods and forests on public as well as private land.  This is a particularly challenging task since the relationship society has with trees, woods and forests changes over time.  The demands that society places on forestry and the role it is expected to play today is very different from that required by previous generations.

Further background information

Objectives

The last decade has seen a significant increase in the available evidence as well as the understanding of the social and often less tangible impacts and interactions of British people and their trees and forests.  This conference draws on that body of research produced by the Social and Economic Research Group (SERG) at Forest Research as well as other public, academic and private research colleagues, to explore and consolidate the state of current knowledge.

The objectives of the conference are to:

• Discuss societal and economic trends shaping the management of British trees and forests in both urban and rural contexts
• Share experiences of responses to these trends and how society can successfully engage with its woodland resource
• Identify future research and policy directions needed to meet emerging challenges.

Conference programme

Keynote speakers, research papers, and presentations looking at practice and delivery will cover the following topic areas:

• Health and wellbeing outcomes: connections to woods, forests, and greenspace
• Education, learning and play in woodlands: new evidence and implications
• Cultural services and cultural values: frameworks, utility and importance
• Measuring social returns, impacts and valuation of forest services and projects
• Emerging trends in community woodlands and public engagement
• Progress in multipurpose forestry
• Changing world, changing resource: governance roles of agencies, organisations, researchers and citizens
• Social evidence and forest science at the policy interface.

Conference programme

Programme summary flyer ^(PDF-63K)

Who is the event suitable for?

This conference is aimed at those involved in policy development, a broad range of social researchers including geographers, sociologists and human ecologists, environment and development professionals and others with a strong involvement or interest in social and economic aspects of British forestry in rural and urban contexts. 

We would expect people from a range of different professional backgrounds, including those responsible for forestry and countryside management, those involved in recreation and tourism, green space planners, economists, action researchers, policy researchers, and social and community development professionals. 

The intention of this event is to focus presentations and discussion primarily on the situation in Great Britain, but also including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  Participants from countries further afield are welcome to take part.

Where does the event take place?

Edinburgh Conference Centre
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton,
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS

Full directions and further information about the venue

Booking information

Registrations must be made by 30^th March 2010. 

You should register using the form below:

• Registration form ^{(MS Word-220K)}
• Registration form ^(PDF-79K)

This form gives details of the fees for registration, accomodation and optional extras (i.e. field trip and conference dinner).

Participants may choose to attend the two day conference, or the full three day package.

Accommodation at the conference centre (if required) should be booked using the registration form.

Accommodation details

Contact

All booking and other conference enquiries should be directed to:

Evelyn Hall
Email: Evelyn.Hall@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0131 445 9616 

Organised by