| Foresty Commission programme manager: | Sallie Bailey |
| Research contact and location: | Alice Broom and Brenda Mayle (Red Squirrels) Ecology Division Forest Research |
This programme supports the Forestry Commission’s contribution to the implementation of the UK Species Action Plans (SAPs). A review of the SAPs relevant to forestry and their research needs was carried out in 1999 as a basis for planning this programme. Of 385 UK Species Action Plans, 133 were identified as relevant in some way to woodlands but many of these are very local or rare. The review identified priorities for Forestry Commission research effort, based partly on how far the species status is likely to be affected by forest management and design.
Current priorities are for 15 species; red squirrel, capercaillie, Scottish crossbill, dormouse, twinflower, juniper, small cow-wheat, waved carpet moth, argent and sable moth, Scottish wood ant, Bechstein’s bat, lesser horseshoe bat, pearl bordered fritillary butterfly, chequered skipper butterfly, lime bark beetle and a group of ‘tooth fungi’ (stipitate hydnoid fungi) associated mainly with the Caledonian pine forests of Scotland.
Research is focused mainly at understanding woodland habitat needs and the effects of forest management practices and will be integrated with other programmes such as Decision support systems, Ecology of upland native woodlands and Management for habitat quality.
Commissioned reports
Date: 2005
Title: Survey of Welsh small-leaved lime woods for the scarce lime bark beetle Ernoporus tiliae
Author: Tony Drane
Full report: PDF
Summary:
The scarce lime bark beetle Ernoporus tiliae is classed as a Red Data Book category 1 species and is listed as a Priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan due to its apparent decline in post war years. The objectives of the Species Action Plan for Ernoporus tiliae, for which the Forestry Commission is the Lead Partner, set out to learn more about the distribution and habitat requirements of the species. The survey in Wales carried out in the autumn of 2005 complements work carried out in England in 2001-2, and together provide for the first time, a countrywide distribution for the species. The survey has been funded by the Countryside Commission for Wales and the Forestry Commission.
