
Climate change
Climate change
When it comes to climate change, our message is clear: native woods and trees are one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.
Photosynthesis is made simple as you take a journey into the leaf of a tree. Watch our animation and discover how trees capture and store carbon.
Video length: 00:02:29
The world is getting warmer. Each decade is hotter than the last as we continue to add heat-trapping greenhouse gases to the atmosphere at an alarming rate.
The impact is more complex than rising temperatures and melting polar ice caps. It’s changing the world around us, causing extreme weather across the globe - storms, flooding and drought.
We’re in a race against time to fight the effects of climate change and reduce the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
And that’s where trees come in. They have a major role to play in taking in carbon dioxide – one of the most prominent greenhouse gases – and locking up the carbon for centuries.
They do this through photosynthesis.
The leaves of growing trees absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen and locking up the carbon until the tree eventually dies and, decays, or is burnt. Some of the carbon from falling leaves enters the woodland soil and is stored there for the long term, making the entire woodland ecosystem an important carbon store.
Photosynthesis is powered by light and uses carbon dioxide and water to make glucose…
Native woods and trees are our allies in the fight against climate change. We need to find the space for them to grow and thrive, locking away carbon for generations to come and safeguarding our planet for the future.
Woods and trees are one of the best ways to tackle climate change. Explore the facts.
Climate change
When it comes to climate change, our message is clear: native woods and trees are one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.
State of UK woods and trees
The first-ever report that focuses on the UK's native woods and trees. It outlines their current extent, condition and wildlife value, benefits and threats.
Take action against climate change as we work to expand woodland cover across the UK.
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