Research funding coup for floodplain project

 

News from Forest Research: January 2007

Forest Research has won £224,000 worth of funding from Defra to conduct a study into the ability of floodplain woodland to contribute to flood alleviation. It is one of six pilot study projects - selected from 55 applications - that Defra is funding to look at ways of meeting the challenges of flooding and coastal erosion posed by climate change.

The study builds on work already undertaken through the Ripon Multi-objective Project, which looked at the impact of land use and management on flood risk. It aims to establish about 15 hectares of floodplain woodland in the catchment of the River Laver, above Ripon in Yorkshire.

The work forms part of the Government's ‘Making Space for Water’ programme, which is a strategy for taking a long-term, sustainable approach to flood and coastal erosion risk management. Flooding is a key issue for the Yorkshire and Humber regions and the project will help inform and influence the developing Regional Forestry Strategy Delivery Plan.

Tom Nisbet, Head of Water, Soil and Heritage Research Group at Forest Research, said:

"We are extremely pleased that our project has been selected for Defra funding. The pilot will allow us to test whether floodplain woodland can make a significant contribution to reducing flood risk at Ripon as part of a whole-catchment approach to sustainable flood management."

For further information

Defra news release

Related research and project report

The role of floodplain woodlands

Contacts

Tom Nisbet
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: 01420 22255
Email: tom.nisbet@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

or

Crispin Thorn
Forestry Commission Conservator for Yorkshire & the Humber
Email: crispin.thorn@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Alternatively, visit the Defra website.