Posts tagged ‘forests’
With Christmas just over one month away, we are all beginning to think about gifts for friends and family. Here’s my top ten list of gifts for all tree, woodland and nature lovers. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, I hope this is of some help. If you know of other ideas, why not add them as a comment and share with other readers?
Ten
A tree! Maybe this should be number one. Look for the unusual and beautiful, such as those that produce food too: e.g. Black mulberry or a walnut cultivar. There are several companies that can deliver trees direct in the post presented in gift wrap. For something a little different why not gift some native hedging, containing dogwood, spindle, wayfarer, hazel and hawthorn (or ‘quicks): you need to account for about 6 plants per metre (or yard) and about 50% should be hawthorn.
Nine
Top quality pruning tools make all the difference when caring for your trees; reducing tree damage while improving your safety.
Eight
Tremendous tree books and Magical films
Seven
A camera to provide a focus for tree and nature interest. Read more about Tree Photography.
Six
Why not have a hot drink in the outdoors without having to make up and carry a flask? The engineering of the kelly kettle or storm kettle are fantastic:- boil enough water for a couple of mugs of hot tea with just a few twigs. It’s good fun too and kids love it.
Five
If you live in the UK the ForestXplorer app from the Forestry Commission for use with the iPhone: “carry the forest in your pocket”. Download or gift from it from the itunes store. An alternative smartphone gift would be a level or theodolite app, which can be used to measure the height of a tree.
Four
A quality bushcraft knife, using handmade quality steel using local hardwoods for the handle, such as the Woodlander series from Ben Orford.
Three
A top quality tree planting spade. Look for full strapping, where the metal extends right up the wooden handle. Foresters prefer to use a Schlick:- a design that can be used anywhere and will last a lifetime. Here’s one UK forestry supplier’s description.
Two
Serious forester gadgets to help measure and assess trees and woodlands. Consider a clinometer (for estimating tree height), diameter tape (for measuring tree stem diameter), or a GPS for plotting the location of trees and woodland boundaries. When it comes to keeping all those notes dry, I’m a huge fan of the WeatherWriter clipboards.
One
Being comfortable in the great outdoors makes all the difference, and will help make most of many of these gifts when using them in the woods. Quality jackets such as those by Patagonia or Swanndri (especially the latter’s famous bush shirt) combine unique features and construction to provide silent wear (great for watching wildlife) and comfort in inclement weather. Don’t forget feet either, as cold toes will ruin any day in the countryside. You can’t beat a pair of neoprene-lined wellington boots for the ultimate in luxury and comfort, such as those made by Chameau or Hunter.
Some free ideas
- Sign up or gift a membership to TreeWatch.com – adopt a local tree and help contribute to the future of trees across Europe.
- A subscription to this blog – it’s free! Just enter your, or a friend’s, email in the FOLLOW ME box at the bottom of this page ….
Gabriel Hemery
A great deal of forestry activity across the world focuses on its technical and practical aspects: such as natural forest ecology, plantation silviculture, studies of carbon cycles, breeding productive hardwoods, designing forests to manage flood risks, reducing the lignin content of softwoods … to name a few. Such is the diversity of forestry. While the social aspects of forestry have come to the fore in recent years, leading to a greater understanding of the cultural importance of forests, there have been few social studies directed at wood. The culture, traditions, aesthetics of wood have been largely overlooked by scientists and the policy community.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN organised a large international conference to tackle this shortfall. The aptly named conference, The Art and Joy of Wood, was hosted by the Institute of Wood Science and Technology at Bangalore in India on 19-22 October 2011; attracting 350 delegates from all corners of the world.
I gave a presentation, Recovering Britain’s Wood Culture, talking about the work of the Sylva Foundation, particularly the support it provides woodland owners through the myForest Service, and its work to engage the public in growing trees for wood through the OneOak project. My paper and talk, and the conference proceedings as a whole, will be published later in the year and I will publish a link to them when they’re available.
People love the sight of lambs in the Spring countryside, and attending lambing open days on farms is popular with families. A week later they may enjoy eating a lamb joint, burger or kebab. There is a disconnect between the two: the unspeakable act of slaughter, out-of-sight, out-of-mind. I suggested to delegates that this provided an interesting comparison to tree harvesting. People love trees, and surround themselves with wood in their homes and offices, yet many are uncomfortable seeing a tree being felled. The difference between lamb and tree is that anyone may come across the death of tree and accompanying roar of a chainsaw when they go for a walk in the countryside.
Wood is Good, we were reminded repeatedly, while being treated to views from speakers talking about topics ranging from magico-cultural aspects of wood and forest in Nigeria, the next generation of wood buildings that may soon reach 30 storeys, consumer purchasing trends in furniture and wooden houses, vernacular wood use in Austria, social aspects of wooden house design in Ghana, and an inspiring wood education programme in Japan. Despite the wonderful diversity of these perspectives the essence of the conference remained elusive.
V. Ramakrishnan got close to the nub of the subject in a talk about the “Fourth dimension of wood“. He talked about the “umbilical connection” humans have with trees and nature, and the positive energy exuded from trees. This connection is intangible and perhaps at a higher plain to what is physical; beyond length, breadth, height, colour and smell. The fourth dimension of wood may be difficult to define but can be described as the lifting of spirits, the feelings of energy, eternity and tranquillity, the karma when with wood. It is sitting in the shade of the Neem tree, or sheltering in a storm under a Banyan tree. Watch carefully how someone will touch a wooden object, stroke it, roll it in their hands, smell it.
A breakthrough of sorts came through at the very end of the three day conference when a quite brilliant 14 year Indian student, the winner of a poetry prize invited to attend a prizewinning ceremony, asked the assembled delegates to explain what the conference was all about. Several ‘experts’ had a go but despite several interesting replies the lack of a coherent answer spoke volumes. It seems that a new discipline has been unearthed that cannot yet be defined nor explained simply. There is much work to do but it is encouraging that so many people from across the World have come together and created a new network.
Wood is the truly amazing material that is produced from photosynthesis; a process that man has not got even near to replicating in the laboratory, despite sending men to the moon and understanding more than ever before about the origins of the universe.
- Wood is the most sustainable material on Earth.
- Forests sustain life on Earth.
It is no exaggeration that trees and wood are at the heart of our future: to live sustainably we must use more wood while conserving and expanding our forests. And there, quite simply, is one enormous challenge.
Gabriel Hemery
Do you have an ambition to own a woodland? Today there is unprecedented interest in owning woodlands, perhaps due to the high profile of forests in the media in the last year. Maybe you’ve had a life long ambition to invest in land or to be a custodian of our landscape and wildlife heritage. There is a lot to consider if you are thinking of investing, and when you are a proud woodland owner, even more to think about, and to do, in the woods. Here’s a brief guide.
Buying a woodland
Private ownership of woodlands in Britain is among the highest in Europe at 82%, compared to the European average of 49.6% (read more). Many of these woodlands in private hands will be traditional large inherited estates; the preserve of the most wealthy. Increasingly however, more and more hobby owners have taken advantage of some of the larger existing woodlands being split and put on the market in smaller parcels. These new, socially-orientated owners, may have little experience of managing woodland.
There are several companies that specialise in selling woodlands. I’m not going to provide these with a free advert here but a simple Google search will reveal some of the main providers. You need to decide whether you want to invest in leasehold or freehold woodland. A small freehold woodland is likely to require an investment comparable to the purchase of a large family car, although prices vary significantly and are dependent on woodland type, region of the country, proximity to population centres, access quality, whether there is public access, shooting rights, lakes or streams, and so on. Larger and/or more commercial type plantation woodlands are typically cheaper per unit area than small woods of high cultural or biological value.
Important aspects to consider when choosing a woodland:
- Location – buy nearby so that you access the woodland regularly with minimal cost and effort. One of the joys of owning a woodland is getting to know it well and watching it evolve through the seasons.
- Investment – making money from a woodland is difficult and requires time and effort. Timber sales are quite complex, whilst firewood is a growing opportunity. Agroforestry, adventure and leisure activities, are likely to yield more income if you have the right skills. In reality it is the land itself that is likely to provide the greatest return on investment.
- Statutory – check for designations and how they may affect your plans. e.g. conservation areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Site of Special Scientific Interest, National Park.
- Legal – if leasehold check for any rights retained by the freeholder. Also, access rights for wayleaves (e.g. powerlines, mineral rights are often separate, Public rights of way (e.g. footpaths, bridleways), environmental designations (e.g. European protected species).
- Planning - check local plans for urban expansion or road building.
- Access – is there an all-weather track(s) through the woodland. If so, this can help considerably when it comes to management, which often takes place in the winter. Is there hardstanding where cut timber can be stored?
- Potential – what opportunities are there for development? For example, if you have ambitions to develop shooting, fishing or adventure activities. If you want to live in the woodland, are there services to the site (e.g. electricity, water), and does planning permission exist?
Planting your own woodland
There can be nothing more satisfying than planting your own woodland. You can create the woodland type of your choice and you will only have yourself to blame in the long term if things aren’t to your liking! You will quickly develop a long term view but that’s one of the joys of owning/managing a woodland.
The pride in planting and managing your own woodland is unbeatable. This is an oak forest I planted in 1993 (18 years ago) but unfortunately I don't own it!
There are a great many issues to be considered in planting a new woodland, that I cannot hope to address adequately here, so I’ll have to revisit these in later posts. Unless you are able to invest in a significant area of land, such as a whole farm, you are likely to compete with many other land investors. If you are thinking of a small area, say between 2 hectares (ha) and 5 ha, you may end up competing with the horse fraternity and their inflated land prices. Slightly larger land areas will avoid this, and so relatively the price per m2 will be less but you will need to invest more capital. You could consider a joint investment with a friend but make sure you receive good legal advice.
Managing your woodland
First get to know your woodland. Conduct some historical research by talking to local people, neighbouring woodland owners and farmers, visiting the local library to look at old maps. Seek advice, often free in the first instance. Try contacting the Government forest service (in the UK the Forestry Commission have Woodland Officers) or if you’re lucky, there may be an extension service operating in your area (in the UK examples include Cumbria Woodlands, Coed Cymru, Yorwoods, Oxfordshire Woodland Project). You may find that there are grants available to help you manage the woodland.
Consider joining an association or society and taking part in visits to other people’s woodlands. Often you will gain a lot from the debates about management between other woodland owners. Perhaps even invite a group to your woodland! A specialist group, such a wildlife interest group, will provide you with very valuable insights into the value of your woodland.
Find out what is in your woodland: the tree species, sizes, condition. Look for archeological features, areas of ecological importance, and the condition of rides and fences. If you would like to map your woodland, and perhaps create an inventory, consider using the free myForest Service provided by the Sylva Foundation. When you know what is in your woodland, and you have a clear idea of what you would like to do with it, then you should consider producing a management plan. myForest can help with this too.
Just remember, enjoy your woodland and don’t over tidy; let nature evolve.
Resources:
Web resources
Owner groups
Confederation of European Forest Owners (Europe)
National Woodland Owner Association (USA)
Small Woodland Owner Group (UK)
Books and Guides
Common sense forestry by Hans Morsbach
So you own a woodland? Forestry Commission publication
Woodland management: a practical guide by Chris Starr
Gabriel Hemery
I enjoy the subjects provided by the Weekly photo challenge. This week I’ve cheated, just a little, as the theme is Sunset and I have posted instead a sunrise. I like this photo so I thought I could get away with posting it.
While on holiday in France in July, I woke up very early one morning and, leaving the family still sleeping in their beds, climbed to the nearest peak. The Cevennes mountains are very wooded, and so often the views are limited unless you are in a clearing or at the very top of a hill. I found a viewpoint with great views across the stunning wooded hills in the pink of dawn (see another photo I took that morning but looking West). I waited patiently as the red glow increased in the East and took many photos as the sun appeared as a glowing giant ball behind the wooded ridge. You can see why photographers refer to this time of day as the magic hour.
Sunrise in the Cevennes, France. DMC-GF2, 200mm (400mm 35mm equivalent), f11, 1/250 sec, ISO100, tripod.
More from my Weekly photo challenges
Gabriel Hemery
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Forest economics - new frontiers
Investing in growing trees as a profitable venture is a challenging endeavour. Perhaps today, more than ever before, there are a number of factors that are coinciding, with the potential to revolutionise forestry finances: after all, a forest reliant on Government handouts is not a sustainable forest. Here a review of the main actors.
Forest Economics – an overview
Forestry has long been viewed as unprofitable and only justifiable through the environmental and social benefits it provides, for example as suggested in the UK Treasury inter-departmental cost-benefit study of forestry in 1972 [1], and the National Audit Office assessment of the Forestry Commission in 1986 [2]. Incentives to encourage good silvicultural practice are rarely provided, and there has been a powerful argument that forests should be left largely unmanaged as a public service resource for recreation, wildlife and landscape enhancement. Yields from forestry are seen as too long-term and the application of any realistic interest rate makes Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) calculations unappealing to investors.
Towards a green economy
Earlier this year the United Nations Environment Programme published the Green Economy Report:
“A Green Economy is one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental and ecological scarcities.” UNEP 2011
Nineteen years after the Rio Earth Summit of 1992 this ground-breaking report seeks to bring real understanding and value to the importance of the environment to economists and decision makers. Then we were only just beginning to think about climate change but now, with the world population due to increase to nine billion by 2050 we need, as the UNEP explain starkly:
to be able to thrive … let alone survive.
The report makes an economic and social case for investing 2% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in greening ten main elements of the economy. It seeks to dismiss a widespread myth is that there is a trade-off between environmental sustainability and economic progress:
“There is now substantial evidence that the “greening” of economies neither inhibits wealth creation nor employment opportunities, and that there are many green sectors which show significant opportunities for investment and related growth in wealth and jobs.”
Measuring the green economy: US Report April 2010
Interest in the green economy is not limited to Europe of course. In April 2010 the US Government published their first report on the green economy. The report summarised that there were 1.8 to 2.4 million jobs, or 1-2% of total private business in the US, relating to the green economy in 2007. The green economy was seen to be in a position to grow quickly but its relatively small size suggests that most growth will occur outside it. The report was produced as a first step and as a baseline for future measures of the green economy in the US.
The natural choice: securing the value of nature
In the UK promotion of the green economy has seen a number of important Government reports in recent years. Professor Read’s report of 2009 proposed challenging woodland creation rates of 23,000 hectares per year across the UK with the main aim of managing carbon. In England this could mean increasing woodland creation rates from 2,300 hectares per year to 10,000 hectares per year over time, with woodland cover increasing from 10% to over 13% by 2060. With Government funding reducing severely, meeting this target is a significant challenge, requiring new approaches such as private sector and NGO investment. Read Report
In June 2011 the UK Government published a Natural White Paper “The natural choice: securing the value of nature”. This states very strongly that economic growth and the natural environment are mutually compatible. Sustainable economic growth relies on services provided by the natural environment, often referred to as ‘ecosystem services’ (although I vehemently dislike this phrase).
Forests
How do these opportunities relate to forests and to forestry? Clearly strong political good will and interest in the environment and the green economy are very important. These need to be translated into action that will support sustainable forest management across the world.
Thirteen million hectares of land (1990-2005 data) are still being deforested each and every year at huge environmental and economic cost:
“It is estimated that deforestation and forest degradation are likely costing the global economy between US$2.5 and US$4.5 trillion a year, more than the losses of the recent and ongoing financial crisis. Urgent action is needed to protect the values of forests as an ecosystem sustaining local livelihoods in the face of climate change.” Statement by Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director
It is now recognised that forests can provide many ecosystem services including:
- provisioning services e.g. timber and water supply;
- biodiversity;
- cultural services e.g. recreation, landscape and cultural heritage;
- regulating services e.g. carbon storage, flood management, noise reduction, improving water, soil and air quality.
The challenge will be enabling some form of payment transaction to forest owners for the provision of these services. Who will pay: Government via different support mechanisms, and/or perhaps big business especially those with the greatest environmental footprints?
I am supportive of the following statement in the UK’s Natural White paper:
“Our ambition is for a major increase in the area of woodland in England, better management of existing woodlands and a renewed commitment to conserving and restoring ancient woodlands.
The second of the three elements, that I’ve highlighted in bold, pleases me most. I’ve written before about massive area of woodlands that are unmanaged in England, and how we should be concentrating first on managing these before (or while) planting more. If we plant more, which is laudable, let’s make sure they are designed and managed to be truly sustainable plantations, so that we don’t waste precious land resources.
Gabriel Hemery
References
[1] HM Treasury, Forestry in Great Britain: an inter-departmental cost benefit study. 1972, HMSO: London. p. 107.
[2] National Audit Office, Review of Forestry Commission Objectives and Achievements. 1986, HC75 (1985-86), HMSO, London.
Further Reading
- UK Government Natural White Paper: “The natural choice: securing the value of nature”.
- UNEP Green Economy
- Lawson G. and Hemery G. (2007) World timber trade and implementing sustainable forest management in the UK. Report to the Land Use Policy Group
- Measuring the green economy (US Report)
