Call for urgent action to adapt forests

The Accord is published by the Forestry and Climate Change Partnership. It reaffirms a commitment to work together.

The Accord sets out a collective vision that Britain’s trees, woods and forests are resilient to climate change. Resilient woods will be able to meet their full potential to provide environmental, social and economic benefits.

Forestry and Climate Change Partnership (FCCP) members include forestry, conservation and government organisations.

Climate change has many associated environmental impacts. These include drought, flooding, fire, pests and pathogens which present serious threats to the health of our trees woods and forests.

There is an urgent need to improve the resilience of both newly created and existing woodland to climate change. This requires significant change to widely accepted systems of woodland and land management. Greater awareness is needed for the importance of adopting a broader range of species. Diversity of genetics, age and stand structure and connectivity in the landscape are also required.

The FCCP is working to communicate the case for adaptation. The partnership will provide training and education, inform research priorities and contribute to policy development.

Dr Gabriel Hemery, Chief Executive of the Sylva Foundation and Chair of the FCCP, said: “The recently renamed Forestry and Climate Change Partnership represents an unusual level of collaboration and a powerful agreement to work together to make change happen, fast.

“Our trees, woods and forests are faced with unprecedented rates of climate change and increased environmental threats. Only by working together will we be able to rise to meet these challenges, with an ambition to bounce back better.”

The Accord is available on the new FCCP website.

Organisations can show their support for the Accord by signing up online.