Today, the media picked up on the importance of the scientific paper which I revealed yesterday, which calculates the economic cost of ash dieback in Britain to total £15 billion. Read More
Ash dieback paper kindles national interest
Ash dieback is an environmental calamity that will cost Britain £15 billion
A research paper published today estimates that the cost of ash dieback in Britain will reach £15 billion. I was privileged to have supported lead author Louise Hill as an external supervisor, and to be a co-author of the paper. Read More
A trait-based approach for forest ecosystem management
One of my more recent co-authored research articles has been selected as ‘Editor’s Choice’ in The Applied Ecologist’s Blog . The paper, Maintaining ecosystem properties after loss of ash in Great Britain by Louise Hill et al, focusses on the importance of using plant functional traits to predict potential changes to an ecosystem, following the loss of a key species. Read More
Silvology defined
Silvology: redefining the biological science for the study of forests With co-author Jens Peter Skovsgaard I propose a formal definition for a term that describes the scientific study of forests and woods: silvology. In contrast to other disciplines no terminology has developed to distinguish the practice of silviculture from its scientific counterpart. For example,… Read More
Shaping the future of forestry
This week Sylva Foundation published the long-awaited report for the British Woodlands Survey 2017: Shaping the Future of Forestry. It’s been a labour of love working alongside my fellow authors. We were victims of our own success in attracting such a fantastic response from so many people across Britain: 1,630 stakeholders took part, representing one-fifth… Read More
Help shape the future of forestry
Devolution, pests & pathogens, Brexit, emerging markets, climate change, societal attitudes . . . these are just some of the momentous factors influencing our trees and woodlands, those who care for them, and those who rely on their products and services. Have your say about what these and other issues mean to you by taking… Read More
Hunting for Jeffrey pine
Young Victorian plant hunter John Jeffrey — the main character in my latest book GREEN GOLD — is remembered today by the name of a pine tree he discovered in 1852 in northern California. Read More
Do you stand up for trees?
Add your voice by signing the Tree Charter. The Charter for Trees, Woods and People will be launched in November 2017 and marks the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest signed by Henry III in 1217. Read More
Plant a tree for every year of your life
All human beings should plant one tree for every year that they live on earth. If we did so, what might we achieve? Read More
Resilience requires Awareness and Courage
Over the last few months I’ve been working with colleagues from across the forestry sector on a major report presenting data from a survey about awareness, activities and aspirations to environmental change among woodland owners and managers, and forestry professionals. The report demonstrates that private forestry holds the balance of power in meeting the challenges of… Read More
