Summary
This research project builds on an existing long-term intensive forest monitoring network, expanding the number of sites from five to seven. The expansion incorporates two key missing woodland types into the network; riparian woodland and ancient woodland, which differ in their capacity to respond to environmental change and deliver key ecosystem services. Monitoring data from the sites, analysed within the context of the UK ICP Forest monitoring network, will report in depth on many aspects of the forest both living and non-living. The findings will strengthen the scientific evidence base for political decisions on air pollution control and thus contribute to the review processes of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP).
Research Objectives
Forest ecosystems are of significant value to society, with both the living and non-living components providing a wide range of benefits. The existing monitoring network is well placed to report in depth on many aspects of the forest ecosystem however two key woodland types were unrepresented.
The main research objective for this project was to expand the existing integrated monitoring plots to cover missing woodland types, riparian woodland and ancient woodland, allowing an assessment of the impact of environmental change on the ecosystem services provided by these key woodland types.
This data will:
- better inform the assessment of impacts of environmental change ecosystem services and contribute to NCEA accounting
- better inform policy and practice on sustainable forest management and addressing the impacts of environmental change
- provide detailed environmental studies to support interpretation of results from related NCEA packages (Air quality and Water quality).
Latest Update
In 2025 we published our first batch of analysis ready data (ARD) up to end 2023. In June 2026 we released a subsequent dataset covering 2024. Further releases of ARD are due in 2026 so watch this space.
We will also published a manuscript on long-term trends in ground vegetation indicators of environmental change in UK forests 1996-present (expected late 2026).
ICP Forests
Funding & Partners
- Funded by the UK Government through Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA)
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