Latest news with #woodlands
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
UK wildlife numbers are falling despite increase in number of trees
Wildlife numbers in the UK are falling despite a small increase in the number of trees, a new report says. The findings, published by charity the Woodland Trust, show both the quantity and variety of wildlife is going down That's despite a rise in woodland cover, which describes how much of a particular area of land is covered by trees. The conservation charity says the UK needs to improve the condition and scale of its woodlands to tackle wildlife loss. The Woodland Trust says the decline of wildlife is down to the fall in the biodiversity woodlands have seen over time. Biodiversity is all about the variety of plants, animals and other living things found in a specific environment or place. Butterflies, woodland birds, dormice and lots of different plant species have all seen a significant fall in their numbers over the years, according to the report. Ancient and veteran trees, which are really important for wildlife because of their unique characteristics which provide food and places for animals and organisms to live, have also seen a fall in numbers. "UK woodlands lack open spaces, such as glades, which allow light to reach the forest floor and young trees to grow," said Abigail Bunker who is the director of conservation and external affairs at the Woodland Trust. "There are also fewer older trees, which, along with their soils, lock in carbon from the atmosphere. Alarmingly, many British woodlands have very few - if any - ancient and veteran trees left."While woodland cover increased from 13.2% of UK land in 2020 to 13.5% in 2024, the report says just 45% of the government's targets for increased woodland was met over those four also points to recommendations from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) to increase the number of trees in the UK as part of government plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to also tackle climate change. What else is in the report? The Woodland Trust's report also highlights the impact woodlands have on wellbeing and communities, with nine in 10 people agreeing woodland biodiversity has a positive impact through things like birdsong or the sound of rustling leaves, according to a poll. "We are calling on the government and others to invest in the management of our woodlands, so that people and wildlife can experience the benefits of these precious ecosystems..." said Ms Bunker. "It's also vital that the government start hitting their tree-planting targets, so that there is time to grow the veteran trees of the future and help shape woodlands to better withstand challenges like new diseases, or rising temperatures."The government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said, "Trees are really important for helping the planet and for protecting animals and nature."We are spending £400 million to plant more trees and are working hard to take care of our woodlands so they can help all types of wildlife."
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Woodland Trust report calls for action to save woodland wildlife
Urgent action must be taken to avoid a loss of wildlife due to the "plummeting" condition of the UK's woodlands, according to a new report, published by the Woodland Trust on Tuesday, found that the quality of woodland is on the decline, despite a slight increase in tree covers 24% of Surrey, making it the most wooded county in Bunker, director of conservation and external affairs at the trust, said: "We are calling on the government and others to invest in the management of our woodlands." She said investing in woodland management would mean wildlife could experience the benefits "of these precious ecosystems".Woodlands are becoming less effective as habitats for wildlife because they lack complexity, such as having enough trees of differing ages, states and sizes. 'Alarming' drop in biodiversity Just one in every 50 native woodlands have more than one veteran tree per 200,000 square metres - the same area of about 28 football is these veteran trees that are especially valuable to wildlife because of their damage and decay features, which provide food and habitat."Alarmingly, many British woodlands have very few, if any, ancient and veteran trees left," said Ms Bunker."The nation's once rich, complex woodlands have become simpler and less biodiverse over time."The number of woodland butterflies declined by 47% between 1990 and 2022 and dormice by 70% between 2000 and 1975, the number of woodland birds has dropped by 37% and the variety of plants has reduced by 22%.One problem affecting trees is pests - and there are now 121 different species which are attacking native trees, according to the report predicts that climate change will allow these, and potentially other pest species, to estimated £919.9m is spent each year in the UK on managing only six pests, Ms Bunker trust said it wants "sensitive management" of UK woodlands to make them more resilient to an escalating suite of threats and unlock their ability to adapt to climate change.
The Independent
a day ago
- Science
- The Independent
Wildlife declining in UK woods despite more tree cover, study finds
The UK needs to dramatically improve the condition and scale of its woodlands to tackle wildlife loss, according to a major report into the state of the UK's woods and trees. The paper, published by the Woodland Trust on Tuesday, found the quantity and variety of wildlife is plummeting despite a marginal rise in tree cover. This is due to the deteriorating ecological condition within UK woodlands, the environmental group said. Abigail Bunker, director of conservation and external affairs at the Woodland Trust, said findings show the UK's 'once rich, complex woodlands have become simpler and less biodiverse over time'. While woodland cover has increased from 13.2% of UK land area in 2020 to 13.5% in 2024, just 45% of the Government's woodland creation targets have been met by the UK over those years, the report said. To hit the UK's net zero targets, the authors cited the Climate Change Committee's assessment that current tree planting rates need to double by the end of this decade. Pulling together a range of different scientific studies, the report outlines findings that point towards a significant loss in woodland wildlife in recent decades. These includes a 47% decline in butterflies between 1990 and 2022, as well as a 37% reduction in the number of woodland birds in the past 50 years, and 15% in the past five. The population of dormice in surveyed woodland fell by 70% between 2000 and 2022, and the richness of different plant species has reduced by 22% over the past 50 years, more research found. And only one in 50 native woodlands were found to have more than one veteran tree per 200,000 metres squared, which are especially valuable to wildlife thanks to their damage and decay features that provide food and habitat. While approximately one quarter of all forest species depend on deadwood for their lifecycles, almost half (46%) have no deadwood at all, it was also found. Ms Bunker said: 'UK woodlands lack open spaces, such as glades, which allow light to reach the forest floor and young trees to grow. 'There are also fewer older trees, which, along with their soils, lock in carbon from the atmosphere. Alarmingly, many British woodlands have very few – if any – ancient and veteran trees left.' Other threats identified in the paper include 121 different species of pests which have been introduced to UK native trees, many from the international plant trade. The report predicts that climate change will allow these, and potentially other pest species to further thrive, to the detriment of British trees, with the UK spending an estimated £919.9 million per year managing only six of these pests. The Woodland Trust also warned that healthy woodlands are key to UK plans for tackling and mitigating the effects of climate change, such as flooding and sequestering carbon. Sensitive management of woodlands can help to make them more resilient to the escalating suite of threats, it added. Elsewhere, the report focused on the impact woodlands have on wellbeing and communities. It highlighted poll findings that suggest nine in 10 people agree woodland biodiversity has a positive impact through features such birdsong or the sound of rustling leaves. The richest woodlands for wellbeing were also found to be very unevenly distributed across the UK, with lower value woodlands found in more deprived areas Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery – whose players supported the report, said: ' Trees and woodlands are a huge part of our nation's wellbeing and heritage, so it's fantastic our players were able to support this important report, which uses such a breadth of scientific evidence to reveal what we need to do to ensure UK woodlands survive and thrive for people and nature.' Ms Bunker said: 'We are calling on the Government and others to invest in the management of our woodlands, so that people and wildlife can experience the benefits of these precious ecosystems, particularly in mitigating the effects of climate change. 'It's also vital that the government start hitting their tree-planting targets, so that there is time to grow the veteran trees of the future and help shape woodlands to better withstand challenges like new diseases, or rising temperatures.' An Environment Department (Defra) spokesperson said: 'Trees are at the forefront of our plans to reduce emissions and help reverse biodiversity loss. 'This Government is investing up to £400 million in tree planting and peatland restoration over the next two years, and have announced the Western Forest as the first new National Forest in 30 years. 'We're also taking action to bring more existing woodlands into sustainable management, helping to restore nature-rich habitats and support wildlife.'
The Guardian
a day ago
- General
- The Guardian
Variety of wildlife in UK's woodlands falling as habitats degrade, says report
The variety of wildlife in the UK's woodlands continues to decline as the habitats deteriorate, according to a new report. The Woodland Trust found that the progressively worsening ecological condition of woodlands is making them a less effective habitat for the wildlife living in them. Only one in 50 native woodlands have more than one veteran tree per 200,000 square metres, the report revealed. The presence of older trees are vital for wildlife as they provide food and habitat. Abigail Bunker, the trust's director of conservation and external affairs, said: 'The nation's once rich, complex woodlands have become simpler and less biodiverse over time. Alarmingly, many British woodlands have very few – if any – ancient and veteran trees left.' The report laid out a 37% fall in the number of woodland birds over the last 50 years, including a sharp 15% fall in the last five. The number of woodland-associated butterflies fell by 47% between 1990 and 2022. An earlier report by the Woodland Trust in 2021 found that only 7% of Britain's native woodland was in good condition. It found woodlands with low levels of deadwood, few veteran trees and poor diversity in age and species of trees. Between 2010 and 2020, 393 veteran trees were reported to be 'lost' in the ancient tree inventory, meaning they had fallen, been felled or destroyed. A new government taskforce was set up in November 2024 to oversee the planting of new trees with the aim of hitting a target of 16.5% cover by 2050. The taskforce will bring together ministers from all four UK nations as well as several arms-length bodies. Last year, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, allocated up to £400m over two years for tree planting and peatland restoration in England. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion In the recent report, the Woodland Trust said only 45% of woodland creation targets have been met in the last four years. Bunker said: 'It's also vital that the government start hitting its tree-planting targets, so that there is time to grow the veteran trees of the future and help shape woodlands to better withstand challenges like new diseases, or rising temperatures.' The report highlighted the role that woodlands play in mitigating the effects of climate change, with UK forests storing 1bn tonnes of carbon and also removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
