‘Now with climate change we’re realising that diverse structure can be really good for resilience’ – Exploring structural diversification of forests with forest managers

As the climate changes, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as storms and drought are predicted to increase across much of the world. With such events already being experienced throughout the UK, there is growing interest among practitioners and policymakers in how to introduce resilience concepts into sustainable forest management, particularly through the diversification of species-poor and structurally simple planted forests. Modifying even-aged, single species, clearfell forest systems through the application of greater structural diversification will require changes to forest planning and management. Thus, understanding forest manager perspectives of structural diversification, particularly the drivers, motivators, barriers, challenges, and enablers that they perceive and experience, will be crucial for understanding how future forest systems can be more resilient.