The National Forest and Climate Change

Readers of Forest Scene can probably give many reasons why the forest makes such a difference, whether that's creating a new place to walk or making a new home for animals and people. But what about the contribution of the National Forest to addressing climate change?

It is likely that due to climate change we will have more extreme weather conditions and across the world it is the most vulnerable communities that will suffer most. It is not the only environmental threat we face but it is now widely held to be the gravest – even if it might make it possible to plant more exotic things in our gardens!

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air. 20% of the world’s carbon emissions are as a result of deforestation. So, forests are important in combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions. As trees get older, and depending on the soil and the species, they make an increasing contribution to reducing carbon gases. Forest soil is very important as a store for carbon – so anything we can do just to keep trees planted, rather than the soil being used for less carbon friendly things, is a plus.

The National Forest Company plants about half a million trees a year. Each young woodland makes the land more carbon neutral, but other habitats we create also provide carbon friendly land uses. The varied and connected ways we use the land are key to the Forest’s increasing contribution to addressing climate change and in the future it could be that carbon credits, where polluters pay for their emissions and others sell their allowance, will be extended to forestry in England. This would put things on a more formal footing – watch this space.

However it is not just locking up carbon which is important. Wood (as logs, wood chips or wood pellets) is more carbon friendly than other fuels – the carbon you release on burning has been taken in by the tree in its lifetime, so it is in effect neutral, (allowing for production and transport costs). The National Forest Company is promoting the use of wood fuel across the Forest – there are now five installations working in the Forest.

Using wood is really important too. We should not avoid wood products such as chairs, tables, window frames, planking, decking, fencing - so long as they are sustainably sourced. Use wood rather than other energy-hungry products as much as you can!

Finally, if climate change is a reality then we have to get used to dealing with it as well as we can, in addition to trying to reduce it. If the temperature rises, trees will provide shade and reduce soil erosion. Planting young trees now will help replace any older trees that may be lost through storms and extreme weather.

At the National Forest Company we are keeping a watchful eye on the science. Meanwhile all of us, individuals and organisations, can make lifestyle choices to reduce our impact on the climate and the environment.

Find out more about Locking up our Carbon.