Historic declines

The East Midlands has suffered over a long period of time from significant losses in the quality and quantity of its natural environment, largely due to the impacts of modern agriculture as well as industrial and residential development and pollution.

Since the 1920s over 2200 hectares of ancient woodland have been lost in the region and important woodlands and wooded sites continue to face a range of threats. These include widespread and creeping fragmentation and inappropriate management, damage by deer and grazing livestock and, occasional outright destruction.

In urban areas, public open spaces and alongside highways, many individual trees have been lost in recent years and have not been replaced due to concerns about public safety and liability. This trend is having a significant impact on the character and local environment of the public realm and is the subject of increasing concern and debate.

Climate change

The implications of climate change threaten to disrupt the balance of the environment, habitats and species associations on a very large scale. In the East Midlands, trees may be affected in a variety of ways including an extended growing season but more damage from frost, pests and disease and a greater degree of stress caused by drought and flood events.

20% of the region’s land is low-lying or in the flood plain of major river corridors. An increase in the frequency and severity of storms and flooding will have fundamental implications for the management of habitats and features that are sensitive to inundation.

Conversely it is anticipated that climate change will result in reduced water availability in some parts of the region, while water demand from new housing and agriculture is expected to rise.

Many tree species and woodland habitats are sensitive to drought stress and suffer progressive weakening and loss of vigour as a result of frequent or prolonged water shortage.However, trees and woodlands also have a valuable role to play in the mitigation of climate change impacts. In the right places they aid the management of surface water run off, helping to create ‘spongy’ landscapes. They also provide shade, shelter

and humidity in urban microclimates, as well as offering an important alternative source of renewable energy with which to displace carbon emitting fossil fuels.

Economic challenges

Owners and managers face significant challenges to the management of their trees and woods. In recent years the value of timber has fallen heavily as the result of plentiful international supply and an unfavourable exchange rate. At the same time the costs of insurance and other overheads have risen, making it increasingly difficult for owners to manage their woods or for contractors or other woodland specialists to make a living in the sector.

In common with other land based industries, this difficult economic climate has driven a significant move to diversify income streams and to add value to the range of products and services which woodlands provide. For some, diversification has provided a vital and successful source of income but, for others, poor returns have led to a reduction or suspension of active woodland management.

The scale of the contribution that our trees and woodlands make to the region’s growing environmental economy is increasingly important and many leisure and tourism related businesses benefit from the value of a high quality, wooded environment. However, the management cost of maintaining that environmental quality is, at present, largely concentrated on a small number of woodland interests and organisations.

Owners and managers in the private and public sectors need to work together to raise their profile and to address the lack of awareness and understanding of woodland and forestry issues in our region. Only by better understanding the benefits we gain from

our trees and woodlands are we likely to secure the investment needed to maintain and enhance them for the future.