The Future of the Historic Environment in Forestry in the UK

With the push to address climate change and reach Net Zero, forestry is arguably going to play a bigger role in United Kingdom society than at any time since the Forestry Commission’s woodland expansion of the 1920s and 1930s. It provides many ecosystem services and significant economic benefit. It is integral in the delivery of the UK’s devolved governments’ tree planting targets, commercial carbon capture, sustainable timber and fuel, and the management of heritage features. Forestry is a heavily regulated land use, with forestry acts, regulations and the UK Forestry Standard ensuring that the historic environment is central to this future.This article considers the role of the historic environment profession in forestry, providing information and advice to inform woodland creation and woodland management, supporting the protection and enhancement of heritage features, providing and undertaking training, and encouraging public engagement. It then moves on to explore the impacts that forestry can have on the historic environment, balancing these against the considerable opportunities that forestry can offer. It explains how heritage assets and historic landscapes can be harmed by forestry and provides a summary of recent research into the effects of tree roots. Among the positive effects presented are the benefits provided by a dense tree canopy and managed open space, enhanced public access and interpretation, foresters championing heritage, and increased understanding from archaeological surveys undertaken as part of forestry projects. It concludes by suggesting that the safeguards provided by the UK Forestry Standard and UK Woodland Assurance Standard allow us to shape the future, integrating work to address climate change with the preservation of our shared heritage

Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Environmental Science · Forest Management and Policy · Forestry

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