News from Forest Research

In this edition: Forest Research grows, Improving land and water management decisions, Exploring future trends in pest damage to forests in a changing climate, Improving urban green space planning, New Pest Alert on Chestnut blight, Long-term experiments, Measuring the natural capital of urban trees.

Forest Research grows
Since the beginning of April Forest Research has been joined by colleagues from the Forestry Commission’s statistics and publications teams and the Inventory, Forecasting and Operations Support (IFOS) staff. The IFOS team undertake work such as the National Forest Inventory (NFI) which involves collecting, synthesizing and disseminating accurate information about the condition of forests and woodlands in the UK.

Exploring future trends in pest damage to forests in a changing climate
A new Research Note, written by Forest Research entomologists, explores future trends in the effects of insect pests on Britain’s forests as the climate changes.

Pest Alert: Chestnut blight
Chestnut blight is a serious disease of chestnut trees caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. This new Pest Alert summarises its distribution, symptoms and what to do if you spot it.

Measuring the natural capital of urban trees
Two new i-Tree reports are available online, describing work to measure the natural capital of urban trees in Tawe and Bridgend.

Forward

Improving land and water management decisions
By improving the way land is managed, we can increase the benefits we get from nature now and into the future. In Strathard, a rural area in western Scotland, we’re using an ecosystems approach to develop more sustainable and resilient land and water management plans.

Improving urban green space planning
European research project GREEN SURGE aims to meet the demand by green space practitioners for knowledge and practical tools to improve the planning and governance of urban green spaces. Take a look at the results so far.

Long-term experiments – a peek into the past and the future
Forest Research has a long history of field research and it has recently become clear that these long-term experiments are a valuable strategic resource that may have unexpected uses. Explore our long-term experiments.