A new report investigating the impact of forestry on climate change in theUK has been published by the Forestry Commission.
It spells out the role Britain’s woods and forests have to play in reducing the impact of greenhouse gases and slowing global warming.
The report, “Forests, Carbon and Climate Change: the UK Contribution”, examines the parts played by growing trees and mature woodlands, forest soils, harvested wood and wood products in use.
The information provided on carbon management in forests is relevant to woodland managers and forestry practitioners as well as those considering involvement in carbon trading and carbon neutrality schemes.
One of the authors of the report, Mark Broadmeadow of Forest Research, said for the UK to become carbon neutral through afforestation alone it would be necessary to create 50 million ha of forest, approximately double the area of the country.
He added: “Clearly forest carbon sequestration alone cannot be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with contemporary ways of living and working.
“However, the carbon sink associated with UK forests could make a useful contribution. Any measures taken now to protect and expand forest areas can increase the biomass resource potentially available to future generation and support any efforts to move towards a ‘low carbon’ economy. Wood has the potential to do this when used as an energy efficient material or as renewable wood fuel.”
