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A new analysis by Forest Research has examined species diversity of the Public Forest Estate in Britain to help inform the future direction of research on species and provenance. The work was carried out by Dr. Richard Jinks who was until his recent retirement the Project Leader for Tree Species in Forest Research.
To perform an analysis of species diversity of the Public Forest Estate in Britain to help inform the future direction of research on species and provenance.
There are three reports describing the work and they can be found here. The first two documents are the full report and appendices; the third document is a summary of the work and includes suggested priorities for future research.
There are five main reasons why this work is important:
The report identifies three main priorities for research on species and provenance:
Forest Research will be taking this work forward using a combination of the following methods:
*Emerging Species – what are they?
In the analysis described in the report tree species were divided into different categories:
Principal tree species are those species where silvicultural knowledge provides confidence to enable successful deployment across Britain. The species are either already widely used or are increasing in usage. They will continue to be important unless affected by a new pest or disease or become adversely affected by climate change.
Secondary tree species have demonstrated positive silvicultural characteristics in trial plots but gaps in knowledge constrain wider use. The species are being actively evaluated to increase understanding and inform future deployment.
* This is analogous to the third stage of the species introduction process described by MacDonald et al. (1957).
Plot-stage species are a group of species that have demonstrated some positive silvicultural characteristics at the Specimen-stage and are now subject to further testing and development in a limited number of trial plots.
* This is analogous to the second stage of the species introduction process described by MacDonald et al. (1957).
Specimen-stage species are species that have not been trialled for forest potential in experimental plots but have demonstrated, as specimens in tree collections, positive traits of good form, growth rate and hardiness to warrant further testing in plots on a limited scale.
* This is analogous to the first stage of the species introduction process described by MacDonald et al. (1957)
Emerging Species is a collective term used to describe the secondary and plot-stage species.
* Reference
MacDonald, J., Wood, R.F., Edwards, M.V., and Aldhous, J.R. (1957) Exotic forest trees in Great Britain. Forestry Commission Bulletin 30, HMSO, London. [The three stages are described on page 2, paragraph 2]
Project Leader
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