Forests, woods, and trees in the UK have traditionally been used and valued by landowners for timber and fuel, shelter and fodder for livestock, their aesthetic appeal and function in conserving wildlife, and for recreation.
Marking IYF-2011, the International Year of Forests (IYF-2011), the Trust has led on a collaborative report taking stock of forests, woods and trees in the UK.
Read all about the state of the UK's forests, woods and trees
Did you know?
Forests and woodland cover just 13 per cent of the UK (2.8 million hectares). It is estimated there are also 123 million trees outside woods.
While forest cover in the UK is low compared with the rest of Europe forests, woods and trees have an important role to play in provision and maintenance of ecosystem services, and in rural development.
Woods and forests are protected from clearance through the requirement for felling licences and grant agreements.
Individual trees receive less protection, but may be covered by Tree Preservation Orders or Conservation Area status.
Sustainable forestry management
There is a well established framework for ensuring that management of woods and forests is sustainable.
At a UK level, the UK Forestry Standard - the Government’s expression of sustainable forestry - sets out the criteria and standards for the sustainable management of forests. The Woodland Trust welcomed the introduction of the UK Forestry Standard and has been involved as a key stakeholder in its recent revision.
A separate system exists for independent certification of forest products through the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). This is an auditable, market-linked mechanism for ensuring sustainable management of the UK’s forests. The Woodland Trust was a founding member of UKWAS.
The Woodland Trust supports an increase in timber and woodfuel production as a sustainable resource linked to credible certification such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and UKWAS, reducing the negative environmental impacts of long distance transport. Local wood production provides a way of reconnecting people with woodland, helps them value woods and trees and contributes to regional and local economies.
The Woodland Trust has produced a document explaining its views on sustainable management of forests, woods and trees in the UK.
Priorities for sustainable forestry
We believe there are a number of priorities that should be considered in the development and maintenance of a sustainable forest and woodland sector in the UK:
- A substantial increase in forest cover, a proportion of which should be native woodland.
- No further loss of ancient woodland.
- Restoration of semi-natural habitats (including ancient woodland) planted with non-native conifers.
- Woods for people - the Woodland Trust would like everyone in the UK to be able to access woodland within a relatively short distance of their homes.
- Adapting to climate change – in order to enable wildlife to adapt and move in the face of climate change, action is needed across whole landscapes.
Forestry Regulation Task Force
The Forest Regulation Task Force for England was launched in January 2011 with an aim to "identify ways to reduce the regulatory burden on those who seek to create and sustainably manage forests". The members of the task force were selected for their individual knowledge and experience rather than to represent the organisations for which they worked.
Their report, Challenging Assumptions, Changing Perceptions, makes a number of recommendations to the Government. These include:
- Planning Policy should clearly state that the benefits of local developments must be assessed against the national value of ancient woodland.
- The Government should reaffirm with planning authorities the biodiversity value of Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodlands and Planted Ancient Woodland Sites.
- Forestry Commission and Natural England’s standing advice for ancient woodland should be adopted and applied consistently by all English Local Planning Authorities.