Demonstrating climate change adaptation in Alice Holt Forest
This document describes the demonstration of climate change adaptation measures in Alice Holt Forest, a woodland located in southeast England managed by Forestry England. Three specific demonstration areas have been established to show adaptive practices that can help forests respond to the projected impacts of climate change, including milder winters, hotter and drier summers, and increased drought frequency. The objectives are to inform woodland management, enhance resilience, and share learning with stakeholders, including woodland managers and the public.
The main climate risks identified are increased drought episodes, which threaten many tree species through reduced growth, higher mortality, and biodiversity loss. To address these challenges, the selected adaptation measures were based on a review of forest management objectives, ecological site classification, and species suitability under future climate conditions.
The three demonstration measures include: 1. Underplanting a mature Corsican pine stand with hornbeam and beech to introduce more drought-tolerant species while retaining existing species that may become less suitable. 2. Thinning young Corsican pine stands at different intensities to reduce water competition and improve drought tolerance and airflow, which can also reduce disease risk. 3. Comparing natural beech regeneration with underplanting native oak from more southerly provenances, to assess growth performance under future climatic conditions and increase genetic diversity.
Monitoring and assessment are ongoing, including soil moisture, tree growth, and stand health. Lessons learned highlight the importance of cost, sourcing planting materials, and the practicality of certain measures. The demonstration areas serve as educational tools, including a climate change adaptation trail, and provide real-world experience to inform future forest management strategies.
The overarching goal is to increase knowledge and confidence in implementing adaptation practices, thereby improving the resilience of forests in the face of climate change and supporting sustainable management objectives such as recreation, conservation, timber production, and education. The insights gained will help guide forest managers across the UK to adopt adaptive practices that better prepare woodlands for uncertain future conditions.
[https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2022/05/UKFSPG026_CS5_AH-Demo.pdf Demonstrating climate change
adaptation in Alice Holt Forest] (en)
Number of pages: 3
Target countries: United Kingdom
Key takeaways
- Demonstration of climate change adaptation measures increases forest resilience
- The three demonstration areas at Alice Holt Forest showcase adaptive practices such as underplanting, thinning, and provenance selection, designed to enhance the forest's ability to withstand future climate stresses.
- Tree species selection and provenance are key to adapting to drier, hotter conditions
- Incorporating drought-tolerant species like hornbeam and utilizing provenances from more southerly climates can improve forest survivability and performance under future climate scenarios.
- Thinning and underplanting can mitigate drought stress and reduce disease risk
- Thinning young Corsican pines to reduce competition for water and underplanting withComplementary species help increase stand resilience and airflow, thus lowering drought and disease pressures.
- Monitoring and assessment are critical to understanding adaptation effectiveness
- Baseline environmental data and ongoing monitoring of soil moisture, tree growth, and stand responses guide adaptive management and inform future strategies.
- Diverse provenances and mixture of species enhance adaptive capacity
- Planting native and non-native provenances from different climates broadens genetic diversity, providing insurance against uncertain future conditions and supporting long-term resilience.
- Public engagement and education are integral to adaptive forest management
- Self-guided trails and interpretation of adaptation measures promote awareness, support informed decision-making, and foster community involvement in climate adaptation efforts.
Sources
- Demonstrating climate change
adaptation in Alice Holt Forest - - https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2022/05/UKFSPG026_CS5_AH-Demo.pdf
