RFS welcomes Forest Resilience Strategy

Forestry England has launched a new strategy and action plan, which aims to create greater complexity in the public forests through the diversification of tree species and forest structure.  The strategy brings together work already underway on nature recovery, timber production and silviculture. It outlines three key principles which will guide action across the organisation: assessing, diversifying and restoring.

• Assessing forest resilience at a local level to understand the unique character and potential of every woodland. This will include rigorous analysis of the local environment, soils, climate projections, past management and the surrounding landscape and connectivity.
• Diversifying tree species, genetic foundations and forest structures to reduce vulnerability to pests, diseases and extreme weather. Forestry England will use varied management approaches including low-intensity management, continuous-cover forestry, and even-aged forest stands.
• Restoring ecological foundations to nurture the wider ecosystems of forests and woodlands, recognising that biodiverse forests are healthy forests. Teams will focus on species groups and habitats that have the biggest effects on ecosystem function such as soil health, fungi networks, and keystone species like beavers.

“The RFS welcomes the announcement of Forestry England’s new resilience strategy and action plan,” said RFS Chief Executive Christopher Williams. “It is critical that we build greater resilience into our woodlands in the face of a changing climate, biodiversity loss and a growing list of tree pests and diseases.”

The strategy follows a horizon scan research project that Forestry England carried out two years ago with the University of Cambridge, which identified the biggest opportunities and challenges over the next 50 years for UK woodlands. This research raised the possibility of catastrophic ecosystem collapse in UK woodlands in the next half century without decisive action. Today’s publication of the resilience strategy details the work Forestry England will do to meet the challenges ahead.

Dr Eleanor Tew, Forestry England Head of Forest Planning, said: “Every aspect of our work depends on healthy forests and without them we lose everything. The value of the nation’s forests is enormous. They are beautiful, inspiring places for millions of people to enjoy; provide critical homes for wildlife; and they supply high-quality, sustainable timber. We all depend on these benefits, so forest resilience is our single, biggest challenge.

“Each forest and woodland in our care is a complex, interconnected ecosystem, and every part needs to thrive. Our resilience strategy reflects this interdependence, setting out how teams’ work right across our organisation will focus on forest resilience. We’ve based it on the best available science and years of experience and innovation. With this approach, we can give the nation’s forests the best chance to adapt and thrive in the centuries ahead.”

In early November, Forestry England published its list of 30 priority tree species which is now guiding production and planting decisions across the nation’s forests. The list is based on scientific analysis and the species selected will best adapt to climate change, resist pests and diseases and provide commercial timber in the decades ahead. The tree species list is part of the wider resilience strategy announced today, providing a clear framework for species diversity as forests are planned, planted and restocked.

The strategy is available to read on Forestry England’s website together with a film about the forest resilience approach.