Wind damage is a serious threat to managed forests because it results in loss of timber yield, landscape quality and wildlife habitat. The most common form of wind damage in Britain is windthrow in which both stem and roots overturn. Prediction and prevention of wind damage have been important elements of forest management, and the windthrow hazard classification has been widely used to guide the selection of strategies. However, it is not possible to encompass all the knowledge of wind damage within a simple predictive system, or to detail advice for every set of circumstances that a forest manager may have to address. This Bulletin seeks to guide management by presenting a brief but comprehensive review of why and how storms damage trees, and the measures that can be adopted to mitigate such damage. This publication is still available in hardcopy.
