The state of British woodlands

Skeffington, Leicestershire

In recent years there's been a steep decline in the amount of British woodland, and we're passionate about turning that around. We work not only to offset carbon emissions, but also in partnership with other woodland organisations to fulfil our commitment to protect and restore our British woodlands.

Data taken from the Forestry Commission document: 'Forestry facts and figures 2006'.

Due to central government funding reductions and a complicated England Woodland Creation Grant Scheme (EWGCS), the UK new woodland market is severely suppressed. Plus there's been a 40% reduction in new planting over the last five years in non-Forestry Commission woodlands (Forestry Commission National Statistics 2006).

Forest cover: international comparisons 2005

Data taken from the Forestry Commission document: 'Forestry facts and figures 2006'

This table shows that the UK is far behind the rest of Europe when it comes to forest coverage, with countries like Finland 73.9% covered and Spain 35.9% covered.

The impact of woodland decline on climate change

Percentage of woodland coverage
comparison data taken from the
Forestry Commission document 2006

• Woodlands absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and store it in growing vegetation and soil. Some of this carbon is naturally returned to the atmosphere as CO₂ through respiration and decomposition
• CO₂ is one of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) that absorbs energy from the sun, leading to the natural warming of the earth's atmosphere (the greenhouse effect)
• Due to fewer trees being planted and an increase in deforestation, there's an increasing amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. This means the greenhouse effect is getting worse, leading to climate change
• By re-establishing Britain's natural woodland, it's possible to combat climate change

What can we do?

In Britain, climate change and adapting to its impacts are high priorities for the Government. There are two main ways to combat climate change:

• Reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (such as CO₂)
• Create more carbon sinks by restoring woodland

Carbon offsetting schemes

A number of schemes are operating in the UK that give individuals and organisations the opportunity to have trees planted on their behalf, with the aim of offsetting emissions of GHGs.

• New woodland is created
• An estimate is made of the carbon sequestered over the lifetime of the woodland
• This becomes a carbon credit that can be used to offset emissions created by an individual or organisation

As a rough guide, the carbon sequestered by half a hectare of woodland over one rotation can compensate for the emissions made by one car during an average driver's lifetime.