The increasing influence of climate change on land-use including forestry was outlined at the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ national conference.
The “Timber, Mutton or Fuel” conference in Cardiff saw Welsh Assembly minister for rural affairs Elin Jones speak about the “harsh reality” of climate change.
Roger Street, technical director of the UK Climate Impacts Programme, described climate change as the most significant issue the forestry industry had to face.
Future policy was called into question as speakers looked at possible impacts on the range of species which should be planted, while delegates also heard that silvicultural practices needed adaptation.
BSW Timber’s Oliver Combe assessed future markets for timber while William Worsley, deputy president of the Country Land & Business Association, gave the landowner’s argument as to who should be driving species planting and where pressures for development on woodland are coming from.
