The impacts of climate change on forestry and woodland

 

Tree species native to the UK have adapted to the local environment of atmosphere and soils since the retreat of the last ice age approximately 10,000 years ago. There is now convincing evidence that this environment is changing. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is increasing concern of the likely impacts of climate change on the nation’s forests and woodlands.

The way in which the environment including climate affects tree growth is complex. The research that we are conducting aims to examine how climate change could impact on the process influencing growth and the health of trees.The table below is a summary of the key changes in atmospheric and meteorological variables that affect tree growth and it explains the likely effects that any changes may have in the future. More details of the likely impacts of changes to each environmental variable are avaiable by following the links in the table.

Variable	Beneficial effect	Detrimental effect
Atmospheric carbon dioxide	Increase in growth rate. Reduction in stomatal conductance. Increased water use efficiency.	Increase in leaf area and thus higher wind resistance. Possibe effects on ground vegetation. Reduction in timber quality. Possible nutrient imbalances.
Ozone pollution	None	Reduction in growth rate. Impared stomatal regulation - increased susceptability to drought.
Temperature	Longer growing season. Increased potential productivity. Lower risk of winter cold damage. Less snow damage. Potential use of species that are not hardy at present.	Delayed hardening. Risk of spring and autumn frost damage possibly increased. Longer growing season reducing winter soil water recharge period. Reduced winter mortality of insect and mammalian pests. More rapid development and increased fecundity of insect and mammal pest. Potential for exotic/alian pests to spread to the UK.
Rainfall	Reduced intensity of some foliar pathogens.	Winter waterlogging limiting access for forest operations. Reduced tree stability. Root death increasing susceptability to drought and soil bourne pathogens. Summer drought induced mortality.
Wind	None	Increased risk of wind damage.
Cloud cover	Increased potential productivity	Increased diurnal temperature range in autumn - increased risk of frost damage.