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| FORESTERS URGED TO PLAN AHEAD FOR CLIMATE CHANGE |
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2005/6/24
New guidance published this week by the Forestry Commission urges forest and woodland managers to take heed now of climate change predictions and plan accordingly.
The guidance, ‘Climate Change and British Woodland’ assesses the impact of expected temperature increases, changes in rainfall, windspeed, cloud cover and humidity on trees up until the 2050s. It suggests that the make-up of Britain’s forests and woodlands will change significantly as climate change starts to bite.
Authors Mark Broadmeadow and Duncan Ray of the Commission’s Forest Research agency predict that, depending on future emission trends, ash or pedunculate oak will replace beech as the most suitable broadleaved species across most of southern England.
Changes are expected too for conifers with the commercial viability of Sitka spruce in England becoming restricted to the south-west peninsula and the north-west. Conversely, increased Sitka productivity is predicted though for Wales, south-west and north-east Scotland. Scots pine is expected to remain suitable across most regions of England with its range increasing in eastern Scotland. Corsican pine is the only conifer species that becomes more suitable across most of Britain.
Trees planted now will grow up in a climate that is quite different to that in which they were planted. The authors suggest that, given the long-term nature of forestry, decisions on adaptation of species and provenance choice should be addressed at the earliest opportunity. At the launch of the publication at a conference, ‘Trees in a Changing Climate’ at the University of Surrey this week, co-author Mark Broadmeadow said:
“It is too early yet to make prescriptive adaptation strategies - we need more informed predictions on climate change and how woodlands will respond. However, it is possible to identify some ‘no regret’ options that managers should start to implement now. This should include choosing species and provenances which we know will respond well to our future climate.“ |
| Source:http://www.forestry.gov.uk |
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