New paper published:
Norman, K., Burgess, P., Yeomans, A., and Hemery, G, (2011). Woodfuel and woodland management: a case study. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 105, no. 2 (2011): 135-140.
Available for download from our Forestry Horizons library
viewing category: Forestry Horizons
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The first of 32 sample plots studying the effect of tree type and wood type on decomposer communities
The first research plots have been established in Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire by our Sylva Scholar, Kirsty Monk. This marks the start of a two and a half year project studying the effects of climate change, invasive events and woodland management strategies on the fungal communities therein.
Kirsty has placed split logs in 32 sample plots in the woodland. These will be monitored at two-monthly intervals to study the preferences of fungi for different tree species, fungi growth patterns and differences in the rate of decomposition of different wood types.
This is the first of many experiments taking place in the research project to tackle these questions, and news of these will be added as they get underway.
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A new website has been launched for the Forestry Commission Wood Footprinter Methodology and Toolkit Research Project.
Sylva is a main partner in the project, funded by the Forestry Commission, working in collaboration with Best Foot Forward and TRADA.
The aim of this research project is to develop a methodology for the forestry and wood industry to assess the carbon footprint of wood and timber products. The approach taken will be consistent with existing standards, but sufficiently specialised to target the key features of the lifecycle of wood products, particularly recognising carbon sequestration during the growth phase and the importance of the use/end of life of timber products.
Read more at: www.woodfootprint.co.uk
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October 13, 2010
Developing a carbon footprint calculator for the woodchain
The Sylva Foundation is partnering with Best Foot Forward and TRADA on a new research project for the Forestry Commission.
The project will focus on identifying the best methodology for assessing the carbon footprint of forestry activities and the wider wood supply chain, and providing a prototype footprint calculator.
Simon Miller, Best Foot Forward’s Consultancy Director, said, “Wood is one of the world’s key renewable resources. We’re delighted to be working with TRADA Technology, the Sylva Foundation and the Forestry Commission on developing a best practice approach to calculating GHG emissions in the wood supply chain.”
The project partners are keen to engage all sections of the wood supply chain in testing the methodological approach and the usability of the footprint toolkit. Forestry companies, saw mills, wood processors, timber merchants and energy from wood producers are invited to visit the project website www.woodfootprint.co.uk which has details of the research to date and how interested parties can make contributions.
As well as being published at the end of March 2011, the results of the work will be presented at the new showcase for innovation in timber, Timber Expo, being hosted by TRADA Technology at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on 27th and 28th September 2011 (see http://www.timber-expo.co.uk/).
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October 11, 2010
Sylva Scholarship launched
The Sylva Scholarship was launched in October 2010 in a partnership between the Sylva Foundation and the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford. The theme of the Sylva Scholarship is
healthy trees and productive forests.
This reflects a joint vision between the Sylva Foundation and the Department of Plant Sciences to manage forest resources based on a fundamental understanding of forest ecosystems.
The Sylva Scholarship programme will be administered by the Department of Plant Sciences, with the expectation that there will be a rolling programme of research students in the coming years. The first Sylva Scholar, Oxford Graduate Kirsty Monk, is undertaking a study to investigate the possible impacts of forest management on woodland ecosystems.
Kirsty’s project is entitled ‘The consequences of management and climate change for ecosystem function: a case study of cord-forming fungi in English woodlands’. The study will examine whether changes to the management regime and species composition of broadleaved woodlands are likely to have a significant impact on ecosystem function. Impact will be monitored by examining the effects on an important group of ‘ecosystem engineers’ – the cord-forming fungi. The research is supported by scientists from the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, and from the Natural History Museum, London.
Sylva Foundation CEO, Dr Gabriel Hemery, said “This is an important initiative under our Science programme, promoting sustainable forest management through research and communication. Our support of a research studentship at one of the world’s leading departments of plant sciences enables us to tackle head on some of the most significant threats facing Britain’s trees and forests in the future, while realising opportunities too.” He added “This particular research project will hopefully be the first of many and we are delighted to be supporting Kirsty in her work towards achieving a DPhil at the university.”
Professor Liam Dolan, Director of Graduate Studies in the Oxford Plant Sciences Department explained “We are fortunate in the UK in that our forests are currently valued as much for their biodiversity, carbon storage and environmental services as they are for their capacity to produce useable wood. However, the growing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions through increased use of locally produced timber and biofuel will provide a powerful incentive to make these woods more productive. It is therefore important that the effects that management for production will have on biodiversity and other environmental services are fully understood.”
Dr David Bass, from the Natural History Museum in London, added “the application of molecular biology to study the biodiversity and ecology of organisms that cannot be distinguished by their morphology alone – such as cord-forming fungi – is a rapidly developing field. The Sylva Scholarship will contribute greatly to training Kirsty in these techniques, which are fundamental skills for a modern biologist and are widely transferable to other areas of research. Her project will exploit an exciting synergy between molecular biology and forest ecology, which will throw new light on the ecology of wood decomposition – a key ecosystem service in woodlands and forests.”
Read more on our Forestry Horizons website
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Sylva Foundation is a core supporter of the T10Q project (the Top 10 Questions project). The project aims are to identify the most important research issues for forestry in the UK by adopting a powerful process, involving many different people with diverse interests. A scientific paper has now been published in Forestry (free download) that lists the top research questions.
Four hundred and eighty people responded to online surveys and suggested almost 1600 questions that they believed to be of vital importance to forestry research in the UK and Ireland. A workshop was held in Oxford in 2009 to discuss the main themes from the surveys.
This led to the identification of the Top Ten Questions for Forestry:
- What are the most technically and cost effective ways of identifying, monitoring, and controlling invasive species, pests and disease?
- How can we achieve better understanding between foresters and other parts of society?
- What are the most effective landscape planting schemes to ensure connectivity between woodland fragments whilst maintaining connectivity between other landuse types?
- How will climate change affect both natural forest ecosystems and forestry and how should management be adapted to minimise adverse impacts and optimise benefits?
- What is the value of forestry to human health and well-being?
- Who are the private woodland owners and how can they be engaged and influenced? What are their concerns?
- Which parts of forest ecosystems form the largest and most stable carbon pools and how are these impacted by forest management and climate change?
- How can we address the economic, environmental, social and institutional constraints of expanding woodfuel in the UK?
- What species or provenances should we be considering in relation to a range of forestry systems including urban and agroforestry, in the light of climate change?
- What are the barriers to knowledge transfer in forestry from research to practice and how can they be removed?
You can read more about the project, and download other papers about forestry policy here.
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Proceedings of the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ National Conference, sponsored by the Sylva Foundation, have been published online today. The conference was on the subject of Forests and Energy.
The proceedings are available on our Forestry Horizons website.
Hemery, G. E. (2010). Forests and energy: maximising their potential. Institute of Chartered Foresters, National Conference 28
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Yeomans A, Hemery G. (2010) Prospects for the market supply of wood and other forest products from areas with fragmented forest-ownership structures: England case study. Contract report for ConFor and CEPF: Sylva Foundation. 55.
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January 11, 2010
SYLVA gathers an expert focus group at the University of Oxford
Category: Forestry Horizons
Today, SYLVA gathered together ten leading forestry experts at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford. This was the final step in completing an EU research programme undertaken as part of our think-tank work.
The research programme is entitled Prospects for the market supply of wood and other forest products from areas with fragmented woodland ownership structures. The research programme is being led by the Confederation of European Forest Owners and involves several European countries.
SYLVA was contracted by ConFor to deliver a study of the English forestry sector as part of this study. The ten experts who attended today’s focus group represented many parts of the forestry sector including major NGOs, large estate managers, private owners of small woodlands, and academics. As part of this work SYLVA’s Director of Forestry, Alistair Yeomans, has already completed an extensive review of literature and interviewed many experts in the industry.
The final written report will be completed this week. We hope to make it available on our website some time in the future at www.ForestryHorizons.eu
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Gabriel Hemery reports with Jo Clark on field trials established in 2003 to test five walnut hybrid varieties. Planted within an innovative silvicultutral mixture, five years on, some have shown outstanding growth. The relatively fast growth of this hardwood-producing tree may prove to be a valuable component in some new plantation woodlands, particularly short rotation forestry systems.
More details of the paper can be seen in our Forestry Horizons resources database.
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