SUPERB – Upscaling Forest Restoration
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll, Tom Locatelli
Bruce Nicoll
BSc, PhD, MRSB
Bruce Nicoll
BSc, PhD, MRSBPrincipal Scientist
Climate change
Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY, UK
About Bruce Nicoll
Bruce Nicoll has over 30 years forestry research experience. He has a BSc in Biological Sciences from Napier University, Edinburgh, and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences.
His research focusses on tree physiology, biomechanics, and climate change adaptation. He has investigated of tree root architecture and anchorage, the risk of wind damage to forests, how trees stabilise vulnerable slopes against landslides and erosion, and how forests can be adapted to be resilient to climate change.
- Adaptive forest management for climate change
- Root physiology and tree establishment
- Modelling of root architecture and tree stability
- Root reinforcement and slope stability
- Protection forestry
- Tree biomechanics and acclimative growth
Affiliations
- Member Editorial Board for Forestry – An International Journal of Forest Research.
- Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO Unit 8.03.06 “Impact of wind on forests” 2010-2019.
- Member of the Royal Society of Biology.
- Member of the Directorate for ClimateXChange, Scotland’s Centre of Expertise on Climate Change.
Research
Climate change impacts
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll
ClimateXChange (CXC)
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll, Tom Locatelli
Models for adaptive forest management (MOTIVE)
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll
Transnational forestry management (ForeStClim)
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll
Stump harvesting
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll, Tom Nisbet
Expected climate change and options for EU silviculture (ECHOES)
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll, Duncan Ray
Improving the ecological content of Forest Plans
Author(s): Bruce Nicoll
Other Research
- Climate change adaptation
- Risk and resilience
- Forests and slope stability.
- Tree stability and Wind risk to forests. This project developed and released the successful ForestGALES wind risk decision support tool for British forests.
- Forestry sector adaptation research for ClimateXChange, Scotland’s centre of expertise on climate change.
European projects
- SENSFOR (EC COST Action ES1203) “Enhancing the resilience capacity of SENSitive mountain FORest ecosystems under environmental change”
- MOTIVE (EC FP7). “Models for Adaptive Forest Management”. 2009-2013.
- STORMS (EC DG Environment). “Destructive storms to European forests”. 2009-2010.
- EFORWOOD (EC FP6). “Sustainability Impact Assessment of the Forestry – Wood Chain” WP2.4 – Risk. 2006 – 2010.
- FORESTCLIM (EC Interreg North-West region). “Transnational Forestry Management Strategies in Response to Regional Climate Change Impacts 2008 – 2012.
- ECHOES (EC COST Action FP0703) “Expected Climate Change and Options for European Silviculture” 2008-2012.
- COST Action E38 (EC/ESF) “Woody Root Processes”. 2004-2008.
- STORMRISK (EC Interreg North Sea Region) project. “Development of STORM resistant landscapes through regional co-operation, adapted management and RISK communication” 2006 – 2008.
- ECOSLOPES (EC FP5). “Eco-engineering and conservation of slopes for long-term protection from erosion, landslides and storms.
Other Publications
Peer reviewed journal articles
Gardiner, B., Achim, A., Nicoll, B., and Ruel, J-C. (2019). Understanding the interactions between wind and trees: an introduction to the IUFRO 8th Wind and Trees Conference. Forestry 92, 375-380.
Nicoll, B.C., Connolly, T., and Gardiner, B.A. (2019). Changes in spruce growth and biomass allocation following thinning and guying treatments. Forests 10 (3), 253.
Meijer, G-J., Bengough, G., Knappett, J., Loades, K.W., and Nicoll, B.C. (2018). In situ measurement of root-reinforcement using the corkscrew extraction method. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 55 (10). 1372-1390
Reyer, C.P.O., Bathgate, S., Blennow, K., Borges, J.G., Bugmann, H., Delzon, S., Faias, S.P., Garcia-Gonzalo, J., Gardiner, B., Gonzalez-Olabarria, J.R., Gracia, C., Hernández, J.G., Kellomäki, S., Kramer, K., Lexer, M.J., Lindner, M., van der Maaten, E., Maroschek, M, Muys, B, Nicoll, B, Palahi, M, Palma, J.H.N., Paulo, J.A., Peltola, H., Pukkala, T., Rammer, W., Ray, D., Sabaté, S., Schelhaas, M-J., Seidl, R., Temperli, C., Tomé, M., Yousefpour, R., Zimmermann, N.E., Hanewinkel, M. (2017). Are forest disturbances amplifying or cancelling out climate change-induced productivity changes in European forests? Environmental Research Letters 12 (3), 034027
Albrecht, A., Badel, E., Bonnesoeur, V., Brunet, Y., Constant, T., Défossez, P., De Langre, E., Dupont, S., Fournier, M., Gardiner, B., Mitchell, S.J., Moore, J.R., Moulia, B., Nicoll, B.C., Niklas, K.J., Schelhaas, M-J., Spatz, H-C., Telewski, F.W. (2016). Comment on “Critical wind speed at which trees break”. Physical Review E, 94 (6).
Meijer, G.J., Bengough, A.G., Knappett, J.A., Loades, K.W. and Nicoll, B.C. (2016). New in situ techniques for measuring the properties of root-reinforced soil – laboratory evaluation. Géotechnique, 66 (1), 27–40.
Locatelli, T. Gardiner, B. Tarantola, S. Nicoll, B. Bonnefond, J.M. Garrigou, D., Kamimura, K. and Patenaude, G. (2016). Modelling wind risk to Eucalyptus globulus ( Labill .) stands. Forest Ecology and Management, 365, 159 – 173.
Beauchamp, K., Bathgate, S., Ray, D., Nicoll, B. (2016). Forest ecosystem service delivery under future climate scenarios and adaptation management options: a case study in central Scotland. Scottish Forestry 70(3): 30-41.
Meijer, G.J., Bengough, A.G., Knappett, J.A., Loades, K.W. and Nicoll, B.C. 2015. Comparison of new in situ root-reinforcement measuring devices to existing techniques. Slopes and Geohazards. Jan. 2015, 1621-1626.
Bouriaud, L., Marzano, M., Lexer, M., Nichiforel, L., Reyer, C., Temperli, C., Peltola, H., Elkin, C., Duduman, G., Taylor, P., Bathgate, S., Jose G. Borges, Clerkx, S., Garcia-Gonzalo, J., Gracia, C., Hengeveld, G., Kellomäki, S., Kostov, G., Maroschek, M., Muys, B., Nabuurs, G.J., Nicoll, B., Palahí, M., Rammer, W., Ray, D., Schelhaas, M-J., Sing, L., Tomé, M., Zell, J., & Hanewinkel, M. (2015). Institutional factors and opportunities for adapting European forest management to climate change. Regional Environmental Change 15 (8): 1595-1609.
Hale, S.A., Gardiner, B., Peace, A., Nicoll, B., Taylor, P., & Pizzirani, S. (2015). Comparison and validation of three versions of a forest wind risk model. Environmental Modelling & Software, 68, 27-41.
Ray, D., Bathgate, S., Moseley, D., Taylor, P., Nicoll, B., Pizzirani, S. & Gardiner, B. (2014). Comparing the provision of ecosystem services in plantation forests under alternative climate change adaptation management options in Wales. Regional Environmental Change, 15(8), 1501-1513. .
Jactel, H., Branco, M, Duncker, P., Gardiner, B., Grodzki, W., Långström, B., Moreira, F., Netherer, S., Nicoll, B., Orazio, C., Piou, D., Schelhaas, M-J.and Tojic, K. (2011). A multi-criteria risk analysis to evaluate impacts of forest management alternatives on forest health in Europe. Ecology and Society 17 (4), 52.
Hale, S.E., Gardiner, B.A. Wellpott, A. Nicoll, B.C. and Achim, A. (2011). Wind loading of trees: Influence of tree size and competition. European Journal of Forest Research: 131(1), 203-217.
Butler, A.J., Barbier, N., Cermák, J., Koller, J., McEvoy, C., Nicoll, B., Perks, M., Thornily, C., Grace, J., and Meir, P. (2010). Estimates and relationships between above and belowground resource exchange areas in a Sitka Spruce managed forest. Tree Physiology 30(6): 705-714.
Gardiner, B., Blennow, K., Carnus, J-M, Fleischer, P., Ingemarson, F., Landmann, G., Lindner, M., Marzano, M., Nicoll, B., Orazio, C., Peyron, J-L., Reviron, M-P., Schelhaas, M-J., Schuck, A., Spielmann, M., and Usbeck, T. (2010). Destructive Storms in European Forests: Past and Forthcoming Impacts. Final Report to EC DG Environment.
Book and book chapters
Lawrence, A. and Nicoll, B. (2016). Climate impacts and adaptations in forest management. In: Climate Change. Observed Impacts on Planet Earth. 2nd edition. Edited by Trevor M. Letcher. Elsevier. 492 pp.
Nicoll B, Hale S, Gardiner B, Peace A and Rayner B. (2015). ForestGALES A wind risk decision support tool for forest management in Britain. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.
Moffat, A., Nisbet, T. and Nicoll, B. 2011. Environmental effects of stump and root harvesting. Forestry Commission Research Note 9. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.
Trade journal and newsletter articles
Steward, G. and Nicoll, B. (2016). Blowing in the wind. Viewpoint article, Insurance Day Magazine. 30 November 2016.
Hale, S., Nicoll, B. and Martin, S. (2015). Improvements to ForestGALES – The forest wind risk tool. Forestry and Timber News. October 2015.