Transcript No Slide Title

Woodfuel and Woodland Conservation
Opportunities
Heelis Building, Swindon, 22nd of January 2009
Jonathan Spencer, Senior Ecologist, Forestry
Commission England
Woodfuel and Woodland Conservation
This meeting has arisen from:
The Climate Change agenda;
The need to find secure alternatives to oil and
gas;
…delivering the England woodfuel target
…and recognition of the role harvesting
woodfuel could play in furthering wildlife
conservation (and vice versa of course)
Woodfuel and Woodland Conservation
It is not...
...a discussion on biofuels and energy policy.
…yet another conference on woodland management
...a contest between old growth or early succession advocates
...an opportunity to chidethe following:
the FC
the Woodland Trust
Natural England
all of the above
nor is it…
...another opportunity to discuss the Vera hypothesis and the
importance of grazing animals!
it is a return to the discussion on ancient woods,
traditional management and how to make it work.
Woodfuel and Woodland Conservation
Our objectives for today will be:
To promote mutual understanding of woodfuel
and wildlife issues amongst key players
To explore shared agendas
To explore opportunities for action
To make things happen!
Introductions
Ancient Woodlands
Historically valued for
providing:
•Firewood and charcoal
•Raw materials
•Larger timbers for major
projects
“the vast majority of our ancient
woodland is former coppice and
provided fuel”
Historic Coppice Management
• required constant
working
•created open glades
and coppice coups at
all times
•offered places with
sunshine and warmth
•rich in butterflies,
birds, flowers!
“a mediaeval woodman would have been amazed that anyone could
consider a wood or tree to have been destroyed just because it was cut
down” Richard Mabey, Common Ground 1980.
Commons and Heaths
•Birch
•Pine
•Gorse
•Turves
Commons and heaths were also a major source of fuelwood
Ancient Woodland Today
•Dark, Cold,Shady
•Undermanaged
•Wildlife poor
“the deliberate abandonment of a coppice
is, in short, a risky business. A rather safer
future for these woods, both ecologically
and economically, would be to return them
to the traditional management under which
they evolved”
Richard Mabey 1980
Living Historic Landscapes
“There are risks in not
managing woods……
and risks in reinstating
woodland management”
The Future?
What options exist to integrate
conservation management
with biomass production?
How do we optimise a
woodland’s contribution to
mitigating the impacts of
Climate Change?
What scope exists for strategic
utilisation of Forestry
Commission assets?
What a partnership brings….
Woodfuel and Woodland Conservation
Participants
Organisation
No: of Members
Area of
woodland suited
to woodfuel
production (Ha)
30,000 (accurate)
Forestry
Commission
National Trust
n/a
(but c100m visits)
3.56m
RSPB
1m
Wildlife Trusts
765,000
Woodland Trust
Butterfly
Conservation
Plantlife
160,000
12,000
c. 5,000
(guestimate)
c.500 - 1000
(guestimate)
c. 10,000
(guestimate)
c. ??? (guess)
c. 200 (accurate)
10,000
c.100 (accurate)
The Challenge Today
Is there scope to combine
skills, resource and
networks for:
•Raising the profile of
ancient woods ?
•More sustainable
conservation
management?
•More sustainable rural
employment?
•More attractive and
enjoyable woods?