Awards | Silviculture

Julian Evans receives Gold Medal for outstanding contribution to Forestry

This month, Professor Julian Evans OBE was presented with the RFS Gold Medal by Vice-President, Alison Field, in recognition of his remarkable impact on the British forestry.

By Joe Roberts · July 22, 2024

Julian Evans receives Gold Medal
Professor Julian Evans (left) is presented with the RFS Gold Medal by Vice-President, Alison Field.

Researcher, author, woodland owner and former Forestry Commissioner, Professor Julian Evans OBE, DSc, FICFor, has been awarded the prestigious Royal Forestry Gold Medal for distinguished service to forestry.

Julian was nominated for the award by RFS Vice President, Alison Field.

“Throughout his career, Julian Evans has and continues to make an outstanding contribution to forestry both in the UK and overseas,” Alison said. “He is tireless in his support of the profession and in encouraging others with his passion for forests.

“He shares his knowledge without reserve, living out his Christian faith alongside a mission for all to appreciate how and in what way we may best steward our forests.

She added: “I have no hesitation in recommending Julian for receipt of the RFS Gold Medal not just for his considerable support of the RFS, but for the many, many lives that he has touched and helped throughout their forestry careers.”

Julian’s career in brief

Julian’s passion for forestry was ignited at age 14 when he was awarded the forester’s badge at his local Scouts. In 1968, he graduated from Bangor University and studied for a PhD exploring the sustainability of plantations in Swaziland.

In 1971, he joined the Forestry Commission as a District Officer at Neath in South Wales before moving into research at Alice Holt Lodge, specialising in the silviculture of broadleaved woodland.

During his time at the Forestry Commission, Julian took two spells of unpaid leave to work at the University of Technology in Papua New Guinea in the 1970s and with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in the mid-1980s.

Julian left the Forestry Commission in 1997 as Chief Research Officer and Head of Station at Alice Holt. For the next decade, he worked as a Professor at Imperial College London while continuing his research in plantation sustainability.

Julian Evans poses with Gold Medal

As a forest scientist, Julian is the author of more than 100 research papers and has written or edited some 16 books on tree-related subjects. His books on broadleaved silviculture continue to be deemed essential reading for students and young foresters.

Julian has held several honorary positions in British forestry, most notably Chair of DFID’s forestry research advisory committee, Chair of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and Chair of the Forestry Commission’s Expert Committee on Forest Science.

In 2017 he was made an Honorary Fellow of Bangor University. Julian was appointed OBE in 1997 for services to forestry and the Third World.

As a woodland owner

Julian’s family has owned and managed a 30-acre woodland in Hampshire for more than 30 years. Through popular videos on YouTube and features on various BBC Radio 4 programmes, Julian offers generous guidance for new woodland owners on how to manage woods.

He has also worked closely with Woodlands.co.uk over many years to prepare woods for new owners and help them become better equipped to be good stewards.

“His wood is an exemplar of good silviculture, a delight and inspiration to anyone who visits,” said Alison.

Julian’s work with the RFS

As a dedicated and long-term member of the RFS, Julian’s contributions to the organisation are far-reaching. He is a valued member of the editorial panel for the Quarterly Journal of Forestry.

Through his links with Forest Research, he has had a seminal influence on the content of the journal, including a personal contribution reporting on his 50 years of data collected from pine plantations in Swaziland (Vol 117 no.1 “How Sustainable are Yields in Plantation Silviculture? Evidence from Eswatini”)

Additionally, Julian has led one-day courses for RFS members in his Hampshire woodland, contributed to meetings of the Southern Division and delivered valuable updates on Forest Research as a member of the RFS Council.