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The forests of England

The forests of England

The UK is perfect for growing trees because of its mild winters, copious amounts of rainfall, fertile soil, and hill-sheltered geography. Broadleaf (hardwood) tree growth rates are higher than those of mainland Europe, although conifer (softwood) growth rates are three times higher than those of Sweden and five times higher than those of Finland. With the exception of Scotland, much of Great Britain would be covered in mature oaks if there were no humans there. Although the environment is favorable for forestry, pests, parasites, and fungi pose a threat to trees' health. According to the Forestry Act of 1967, Natural Resources Wales is in charge of developing afforestation and producing and supplying wood in Wales.

The amount of wooded land in Britain today is roughly 13%. During the First and Second World Wars, when importing was difficult, the nation's supply of wood was badly depleted, and in 1919 the forested area peaked at less than 5% of Britain's landmass. To create a strategic reserve of timber, the Forestry Commission was founded in that year. As of 2020, the percentage of land covered by woodland in different European nations ranged from 1% (Malta) to 66% (Finland).

Around 30% of Britain's forest's 31,380 square kilometers (12,120 square miles) are privately owned, while the other 70% are held by the government.

Although this percentage varies from about one quarter (26%) in England to about three quarters (74%) in Scotland, conifers make up about half (51%) of the UK's woodland area. The native tree flora of Britain consists of 32 species, 29 of which are broadleaves. The economy and people of Britain utilize at least 50 million tonnes of wood annually. More than 75% of this is softwood, and Britain's forests are unable to meet the demand; fewer than 10% of the wood used in Britain is actually domestically produced. More than half of the wood used in Britain is for paper and paper goods.

In October 2010, the UK's newly formed coalition government made the possibility of selling off about half of the country's woods owned by the Forestry Commission public. Numerous groups expressed loud dissatisfaction, and by February 2011, the administration had given up on the plan. Instead, it created the Independent Panel on Forestry under the direction of Rt Rev James Jones, the Bishop of Liverpool at the time. In July 2012, this organization released their report. Among other recommendations, it suggested that by 2060, 15% of England's land surface should be covered by forests. According to government projections, 30,000 hectares will be planted annually starting in 2021. In an effort to meet these goals, non-native trees or plants that are inappropriate for the environment have been planted, drawing criticism for altering the ecological balance.

The forests of England face a variety of difficulties despite their many advantages. One of the major risks is climate change, which is altering precipitation timing and intensity as well as increasing the frequency of extreme weather events like storms and droughts. This is seriously affecting both the health and continued existence of the nation's forests and the animals that rely on them.