Forestry in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is one of the most ideal places for forestry - tree and forest management for environmental and economic purposes because it has excellent weather conditions (mild winters and lots of rainfall) and fertile soil. The growth rate of both broadleaved and conifer trees is much greater than in continental Europe. Despite favourable conditions, Britain remains among the least wooded areas in Europe. While woodland and forests cover about 44% of total area in most European countries, only about 10% of the United Kingdom is wooded.
One of the main reasons for the United Kingdom status as one of the least wooded areas is its history which has been closely tied to creation of farmland by clearing woodland. People in the Britain started to clear the woods to gain more agricultural land and harvest wood already around 4000 BC, while archaeological evidence suggest that woodland clearing may have began much earlier. Either way, the trend of spreading agricultural land at the expense of woodland continued throughout most history which eventually resulted in drop of wooded areas to 5% of total area during the First and Second World Wars due to difficulties with import. However, the government has established the Forestry Commission already in 1919 which has been taking care for protection of Britain’s forests and reforestation since the end of World War I. The woodland rate has been increasing after the establishment of the Forestry Commission reaching 10% by the end of the 20th century. This means that areas covered with woodland in the United Kingdom doubled in few decades only but home-grown timber cannot meet the demand. Only 10% of 50 million tonnes of timber used by the British industry and population derives from British woodland and forests.
In addition to increasing the area covered with woodland, the forestry in the United Kingdom focuses on protection and expansion of the ancient woodland, woods that consist of native trees and have existed before 1600 AD. Ancient woodland is the best habitat for native plant and animal species but it covers about 2% of Britain’s total area only. In addition, ancient woods are very fragmented and about one half of all ancient woods covers an area under 5 hectares. Reforestation campaigns have doubled woodland in the United Kingdom but have caused a great damage between the 1930’s and 1980’s by planting large amounts of fast-growing conifer trees for timber production. Fortunately, the trend has shifted in the 1990’s resulting in increased planting of broadleaved trees that are native to most parts of the United Kingdom except for part of Scotland where can be also found some native pinewoods. The country has still plenty of work to do as only about 40% of woodland is native but the progress can be already noticed. Many plant and animal species that were on the edge of extinction can be already encountered in the woods and since the mid-1990’s over 50% of “new” woodland is broadleaved.
Damage to the woodland in the United Kingdom due to clearing and deforestation has significantly decreased due to both governmental and non-governmental initiatives and campaigns but British woodlands remain threatened by diseases and pests although intensive agriculture, air pollution and acid rain remain very problematic as well. The most serious threat are fungal diseases such as Ophiostoma, Nectria coccinea, Honey Fungus and some others. The damage caused by insects such as beetles and moths usually does not cause any severe harm with few exceptions. One of the greatest threats to woodland in the United Kingdom as well as other parts of the world is currently the climate change which could have devastating effect on woodland, in first place ancient and native woods as well as wildlife.
Forestry in the United Kingdom remains focused on further expansion of woodland areas, creation of native woodland, acquirement of ancient woods and their protection, and restoration of ancient woodland sites, while governmental and non-governmental woodland heritage organizations are also campaigning for more radical action against the global warming which does not only threaten woodland and wildlife but humanity as well by emphasizing the importance of forests and trees for reducing the harmful carbon dioxide levels.