New to woodland management
This document provides guidance for new woodland owners and managers on how to adapt their woodlands to the impacts of climate change. It emphasizes the importance of proactive management to enhance woodland resilience against rising temperatures, drought, storm damage, flooding, pests, and diseases. Resilience is defined as the ability to absorb disturbances and adapt while maintaining ecological functions. Relying solely on natural adaptation is insufficient given the accelerated pace of environmental changes; therefore, management strategies must be tailored to individual objectives, whether for conservation, wildlife habitat, timber production, or other goals.
Key concepts include understanding the difference between climate change adaptation and mitigation. While planting trees helps remove CO2 (mitigation), managing existing woodlands to withstand changing conditions (adaptation) is crucial for ongoing benefits. The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) provides a framework for sustainable management and risk-based adaptation practices, with resources such as the UKFS Practice Guide available for guidance.
The document encourages woodland owners to start with planning tools like the 5-step Adaptation Framework, which offers a flexible approach suitable for various site sizes and complexities. It also recommends engaging with local woodland officers or national organizations, such as the Forestry Commission, CLA, Confor, and others, for advice, training, and networking.
For owners of existing woodlands, resources are available on topics including understanding woodland features, improving woodland health, native species, ancient woodland management, biodiversity, and sustainable use of woodland products.
Overall, the document underscores that climate change presents a significant and ongoing challenge, requiring continuous monitoring, adaptive management, and informed decision-making to ensure woodland health, productivity, and ecological value into the future.
New to woodland management (en)
Target countries: United Kingdom
Key takeaways
- Proactive forest management is essential for resilience against climate change
- Due to accelerated climate-related risks such as rising temperatures, drought, and pest outbreaks, simply letting woodlands adapt naturally may lead to significant damage; active intervention is necessary to maintain health and functionality.
- UKFS provides a risk-based framework for adaptation and sustainable woodland management
- The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) offers a comprehensive reference for legal requirements and good practices, advocating adaptive strategies to minimize climate impacts across all UK woodlands.
- Mitigation efforts through tree planting must be combined with resilience-building for existing woodlands
- While planting trees helps sequester carbon, ensuring the resilience of current forests is equally critical for delivering environmental, societal, and economic benefits in a changing climate.
- There is no single blueprint for climate adaptation in forestry; strategies must be site-specific
- Given the variability in conditions and objectives, woodland owners and managers need to employ flexible, site-tailored approaches, supported by resources like the 5-step Adaptation Framework.
- Collaboration between scientific and forestry communities enhances adaptation strategies
- Ongoing research and partnerships are vital to advancing understanding of climate impacts and refining practical measures for woodland resilience.
- Ownership objectives influence management strategies for climate resilience
- Different goals such as conservation, timber production, or biodiversity promote distinct management approaches, emphasizing the need for tailored planning aligned with owner priorities.
Sources
- New to woodland management - - https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/climate-change/advice/new-to-woodland-management/
