Woodland Forum, April 11th 2008

The 5th Woodland Forum meeting held by the region on April 11th saw a number of 'firsts' being achieved - the first full day meeting; the largest meeting so far with 88 delegates attending; and the first time external epxert speakers have given presentations to members of the Forum.

The meeting was in two parts. The morning session opened with a presentation and discussion about the Regional Forestry Strategy Delivery Plan that was launched in November last year. This was followed by presentation about the Action Plan and the proposed Yorkshire Forward Capital Programme. The Questions and Answer sessions after each presentation saw a number of interesting points raised, and the Discussion Group session that took place immediately before lunch saw some further lively debate. Notes from these discussions are available to download from the link below.

The afternoon session opened with a presentation from Dr Tom Nisbet from Forest Research about the potential role of forestry in reducing flood risk. This included details about the opportunity mapping work currently being undertaken to identify locations within the region where woodland creation can achieve maximum benefit in reducing flood risk for businesses and homes.

This was followed by two presentations focussing on the role of trees in helping urban areas cope with extreme heat. Professor John Handley from Manchester University outlined the research he and his team had undertaken as part of the national Building Knowledge for a Changing Climate programme. The modelling work undertaken in Manchester demonstrated that if tree cover acorss the city could be increased by 10% then maximum surface temperatures could be kept down to around current levels right through to 2080. By contrast, if Manchester were to lose 10% of its existing tree cover, maximum surface temperatures are like to increase by 7-8 degrees.

Tony Hutchings then outlined the proposed collaboration between Forest Research and Manchester Univerisity to take Professor Handley's work further and apply the model to towns and cities in Yorkshire and Humber region over the next 3-4 years. This project is dependent upon securing further research funding but will hopefully build in analysis of both the health impacts and economic consequences resulting from increasing or decreasing urban tree cover into the future.

Judging by the enthusiastic level of debate and the almost exclusively positive feedback from delegates, this Woodland Forum has been the most successful to date. The discussion notes and copies of the presentations are available to download from the links below, and the Regional Forestry Strategy Steering Group are due to consider the comments made by delegates at their next meeting on 24th June.

If you have any further questions about the subject matter discussed at the Forum meeting, or want to know more about the science presented in the afternoon, please contact the Vince Carter, the Strategy Delivery Manager, on 01904-448778 or by email to vince.carter@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.