Home of UK forestry climate change adaptation guidance
The Climate Change Hub brings together information and practical guidance about protecting our UK woodlands and forests from the impacts and risks due to the changing climate through adaptive practice.
We aim to summarise the science and provide straightforward, practical support particularly for landowners, woodland managers and forestry practitioners. You’ll also find the latest news, research findings and literature about climate change adaptation, from Forest Research as well as other reputable sources.
Woodland and forest management practices have remained largely unchanged for decades, but risks from climate change are accelerating the need to build resilience for a sustainable future. To continue delivering important benefits such as timber production, recreation spaces, flood risk mitigation, wildlife habitats and carbon sequestration in the future, we need to proactively adapt how our woodland and forests are managed.
Take a virtual walk around the Climate Change Adaptation Trail in Surrey to see adaptation examples, demonstration areas and research trials.
Click on a country for policy information, publications and useful resources.
If you’re new to the concept of adaptation, you can take action, starting by familiarising yourself with the five-step adaptation framework which has been developed to guide practitioners through the process of identifying risks, selecting the appropriate measures, then putting these in place and regularly monitoring and reviewing the impacts. It starts with a review of your existing woodland management plan if one is already in place.
The Climate Change Hub also contains information on the following areas:
Visit our advice section if you’re new to woodland management or you have a specific management objective such as timber production, to help signpost you to relevant information.
We’ve also put together a resources page, where you’ll find factsheets, case studies and details on different online tools that can help you assess the climate change risks for your woodland and support you make decisions, depending on your management objectives.
Climate change is one of the many factors to consider when managing your woodland. We’ve put together some useful resources and guidance to help you get started.
The UKFS Practice Guide ‘Adapting forest and woodland management to the changing climate’ guides practitioners through the process from assessing climate change risks to implementing adaptation measures.
Printed copies are available to purchase from Forest Research.
Printed copies are available to purchase from Forest Research.
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Practitioners who have experience of planting, managing or overseeing a tree species mixture needed to take part in survey.
Dr Gail Atkinson was interviewed by the BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, as part of a news item on climate change and the launch of latest Met Office State of the UK Climate Report.
Forest Research have released a new video about the increasing risks of wind and storms and ways to mitigate their damage, including by using ForestGALES.
Practitioners who have experience of planting, managing or overseeing a tree species mixture needed to take part in survey.
Dr Gail Atkinson was interviewed by the BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, as part of a news item on climate change and the launch of latest Met Office State of the UK Climate Report.
Forest Research have released a new video about the increasing risks of wind and storms and ways to mitigate their damage, including by using ForestGALES.
